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Why Ross Lyon backs Fremantle Dockers star Michael Walters to be a senior coach in the AFL

Headshot of Jordan McArdle
Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
VideoMichael Walters turns heads with a silky sidestep around Dustin Martin.

Fremantle’s longest-serving mentor sees a future senior coach in Michael Walters.

When asked who would make the best coach out of the players he guided during his time at the Dockers and St Kilda, Ross Lyon had no hesitations in throwing Walters’ name up.

The star midfielder-forward turned his career around under Lyon after famously getting banished from training when he rocked up in an unfit state during the 2012 pre-season.

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The 29-year-old is now a strong leader at the club and one of their most important and influential players, on and off the field.

He became an All-Australian for the first time last season and reached life membership at Fremantle with his 150-game milestone.

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Every Dockers draftee in recent years, and the club’s Next Generation Academy students, have spoken glowingly of Walters’ mentorship.

“I think Michael Walters could become the first Aboriginal senior coach (of the modern era),” Lyon said on Footy Classified.

“He’s incredible, football smart, sees the game, drives training, turnaround story, family man.

“I think he can get it done.”

The last Aboriginal man to coach a senior VFL/AFL side was WA legend Barry Cable at North Melbourne from 1981 to 1984.

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