Fremantle champion David Mundy has hit back at critic Kane Cornes, who labelled the Dockers the second worst team in the AFL.

It’s not the first time Cornes has taken a shot at the Dockers, labelling Ross Lyon’s complaints about the treatment of superstar Nathan Fyfe as just a diversionary tactic.

Cornes also called Fyfe and teammate Michael Walters arrogant earlier this month for their treatment of the opposition.

“Kane is making a lot of headlines at the moment and he loved chatting when he was playing,” Mundy said.

“That hasn’t changed. I will listen to people and comments that I really value. I guess unfortunately for Kane with his nature, he is not one of them.”

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Mundy went in to bat for teammate Fyfe today, after former North Melbourne great Wayne Carey said the Brownlow Medallist needed to toughen up.

“That kind of stuff has been happening in the history of AFL and certainly in my time. Nat has been exposed to it before and worked through it and dealt with it. I think he was just putting on the public forum that is one of the things he is trying to deal with at the moment and he will continue to do that,” he said.

Mundy expects Fyfe to be fit to play against Sydney this weekend and said protecting him would be a team approach.

“To my knowledge Nathan is a bit sore and a bit battered and a bit bruised, but will lick his wounds and get back up this week,” he said.

“We will stand up for any player who is under duress from the opposition.

“The rules are clearly defined so hopefully those players get the right protection from the umpires officiating in the game. There are measures that players can take to stand up for our teammate and ultimately give Nat the ball.

“It is a real team approach. We don’t put it on one or two players to be enforcers.”

Labelling pressure on coach Ross Lyon as “undue”, Mundy has backed Lyon to stay on as Fremantle coach.

“He is certainly a different coach now than he was in in 2012 when he first came,” he said.

“I think the player group are really in it with him and bonded to him closely.

“I think he is doing a great job both on game day and Monday to Friday behind the scenes here. He is certainly a great coach.”