Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has leapt to the defence of out-of-sorts small forward Hayden Ballantyne.
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Lyon dismissed any chance the feisty goal-sneak could be dropped for Saturday's clash with rising premiership fancies Greater Western Sydney in Perth.
Ballantyne, 28, has managed just seven goals from his six outings so far this season averaged only nine disposals an outing.
Lyon even plans to release Ballantyne into more regular stints around midfield, a tactic which produced a 28-possession performance and three goals from Dockers other small forward Michael Walters against Adelaide in Adelaide last Saturday.
Lyon revealed that the controversial forward has battled successive corks he copped into his hamstrings against Carlton a fortnight ago and then the Crows.
Ballantyne has not kicked a goal from his last two outings from just 14 possessions as the Dockers continued a stunning fall from premiership contention with six straight losses..
"I don't focus on that, I'm really pleased with his attitude and leadership and courage to be honest," Lyon said on Thursday morning.
"It's really hard as a small forward and you've we've shifted Michael Walters so we'll look to do that with Hayden as the season goes on.
"It will release the pressure valve. It's the hardest position in the AFL the small forward, particularly in a team that's not playing that well.
"Yeh, I'm really pleased with Hayden.
"I respect him, I value him and he's certainly under no pressure at all."
Lyon disclosed rising prospects that emerging defender Ethan Hughes is facing a call-up to make just his second Dockers appearance.
Hughes, 21, played one game last season when Lyon sent an undermanned outfit to play Port Adelaide when he rested a dozen front team Dockers ahead of finals.
Lyon clearly indicated that from a horrible 0-6 start to the season his selection priority could be to swing younger players into the starting line-up.
Established campaigners Matt de Boer, Tendai Mzungu, Garrick Ibbotson and Nick Suban are all pressing for recalls with top form at alignment outfit Peel Thunder, with Lyon hinting that a priority could be for emerging talent.
"Oh look I think we'll make some changes, there's no doubt about that," Lyon said.
"There's been some good performances at Peel.
"What we'll do with the younger players, there's certainly some opportunity but Suban and Ibbotson and de Boer and Mzungu were quite solid.
"But we're looking for continued opportunity out of adversity for our young players."
