The moment Ross Lyon suspected his Fremantle Dockers coaching job was in danger ahead of sacking

Ross Lyon has revealed the moment he suspected something was “not right” in his pre-game ritual ahead of what would ultimately be his last game in charge at Fremantle before his sacking.

Lyon was dismissed with one home-and-away game remaining in the 2019 season, with his final match in charge coming in a loss to Essendon at Optus Stadium in round 22.

Speaking about farewells and exits on Footy Classified, Lyon said a subtle change in his pre-game routine involving Freo football manager Peter Bell ahead of that Bombers fixture gave him an inkling that something was amiss.

“Match day is rhythms and rituals,” Lyon said.

“My ritual was - I would sit in the meeting room, Peter would collect me with the match-up board, (and) we would go up the lift.

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“I didn’t look at the clock (that day)... I was waiting, (and thought) ‘Jeez, I’m going to miss the game’.

“He hadn’t come to collect me. There is something not right.

“We got beaten. I was gone by 10am Monday morning.”

It was actually the Tuesday after the Saturday night game that Lyon was dismissed, with chief executive Steve Rosich also exiting in a tumultuous day in Dockers history.

Lyon said a more memorable Freo farewell came three years prior, when Dockers games record holder Matthew Pavlich bowed out with a win over the Western Bulldogs at Subiaco Oval.

“The emotion that day was palpable,” he said.

“The love from his teammates and his fans... an iconic Fremantle figure, and it was very emotional.

“We got up - the Bulldogs went on to win the flag, (Fremantle) beating them 69-49.

“(Pavlich received) a standing ovation. He just handled it so well. It was special, and uplifting.

“He is everything the game should be about and stands for.”