FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon says legendary NRL coach Wayne Bennett’s coaching philosophy is one that he has adopted in his AFL career.

While Lyon was plying his trade as an assistant at Carlton under David Parkin and Denis Pagan, he had the chance to meet the 7-time NRL premiership-winning coach.

“Both coaching groups (AFL and NRL) came together and there’s always that debate – personnel versus what you believe (game plan),” Lyon said.

“He said ‘I know what wins games of Rugby League and I change the personnel until they can meet what they need to do’.

“I sort of like that philosophy.”

This weekend will see Lyon’s Fremantle side take on Paul Roos’ Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday evening.

Lyon was Roos’ assistant at Sydney when they made back-to-back grand finals, but was quick to refute suggestions that Roos’ coaching style was still the same.

“I think it’s very simplistic (to say that),” Lyon said. ??

“The game has changed enormously since ’05 and ’06…clearly he’s evolved and moved with the times. “