Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has admitted playing a raft of talls in last weekend’s upset loss to Gold Coast was hotly debated by the match committee, but wouldn’t say whether he will persist with the same set-up in Sunday’s match against St Kilda at Optus Stadium.

Lyon said playing all of Sean Darcy (202cm), Jesse Hogan (195cm), Rory Lobb (206cm), Matt Taberner (198cm) and Cam McCarthy (192cm) had not been the reason the Dockers lost to a side he regarded as better than what many pundits believed.

“It was always an interesting equation,” he said. “It really is how you view Cam McCarthy.

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“He was the key to that puzzle. We thought he ran and moved and pressured as well as anyone else that would have come into the team.

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“Fortunately Jesse was there because our midfield needed a lift. We had a couple of players who were down on their game and he went in and helped swing the momentum of the game.

“It’s (team balance) certainly topical. That was the question we had at match committee for a long period of time.

“It was really difficult, but it’s certainly not why we won or lost the game.”

Small forwards Brandon Matera and Sam Switkowski, and defender Taylin Duman are pushing for a spot after playing a practice match for Peel last weekend.

Brennan Cox (hamstring) is likely to play for Peel this weekend if cleared.

Young ruckman Darcy was on light duties at training yesterday before leaving the track early, while Hogan was also only briefly sighted.

Defender Luke Ryan had strapping on his right lower leg, but Lyon said he had simply copped a kick to the shin and would be fine to face the Saints. He wasn’t prepared to go into any potential changes.

“We need to have a look at St Kilda,” Lyon said.

“We’ll get to that (selection) at the right time.”

Lyon identified stagnant ball movement from defence as the Dockers’ biggest issue against the Suns. He said Fremantle weren’t alone in producing variable performances from round to round and quarter to quarter.

“It was disappointing at the end of the day,” Lyon said.

“We’re not thrilled with it, but there’s some clear areas of improvement. We are certainly a young group.

“We are still building. Andrew Brayshaw was fantastic in his first week, struggled a bit in his second in a row but he’ll get there and we’ll get there.

“Our supporters, it’s not a smooth ride in the AFL so just continue to jump on.”

Lyon also defended captain Nat Fyfe after criticism from Paul Roos over the defensive side of the superstar midfielder’s game.

“Opposition midfields are always trying to take the best midfielders away from the ball and forward,” Lyon said.

“It really is about maximising your strength, keeping it where you want.”

Lyon also revealed Stephen Hill was now battling both a calf and quad problem, while Aaron Sandilands (calf) appears no closer to returning.