Fremantle star Michael Walters believes he needed someone with former coach Ross Lyon’s “strong personality” to put him on the right track.

Lyon famously sent the small forward back to Swan Districts in 2012 to improve his skinfolds after returning to the club out of shape.

Speaking on Footy Classified, where Lyon is one of the hosts, Walters said those words “came from the heart”.

“Everyone knows that me and Ross have had a pretty close relationship ever since he got to the club,” Walters said.

“He’s one of those guys that gives you a kick in the butt that you need whenever you need it. But also he wraps his arms around you at times as well whenever you need that. Ross was pretty good about it.

“He was pretty straight up, which was what I needed. I didn’t want anyone beating around the bush, I couldn’t deal with that.

“For me to go back and do what I had to do, I needed someone like Ross with their strong personality to just come out and be brutally honest.

“He told me where my career was at and what I needed to do to get back to the AFL system.”

Walters said he was using a similar strategy to Lyon when it came to mentoring some of the younger Dockers.

“I have been doing what I have been doing over the last couple of years,” Walters said.

“I’m straight out to them whenever they need it, but also I am like you (Lyon), I give them a cuddle when they need it also.

“I am getting older now, I am going to be 30 next year so I am trying to pass on as much knowledge to those younger players, but also whenever they are going through some hardship or whatever, I am going to try to be there as much as I can.”

When Lyon was sacked by the club last year, Walters posted an emotional tribute to his former mentor on Instagram.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to Ross Lyon for making me the player I have become,” he wrote.

“You are the best person I have come across you had a massive impact on a lot of people.

“It’s a sad day for myself personally but I know you will always be there for me and my family as I will for you.”