We have learnt that Ross Lyon likes to play a side in the pre-season that will resemble the 22 we will see in round 1 of the home and away season. There is no holding senior players back and there are no un-earned games under the Lyon regime. The only first-year players to see match time in the NAB Cup were Tanner Smith and Jack Hannath. Getting minutes into the legs has been the theme from the very first bounce of 2013.

We have learnt that Nat Fyfe’s football evolution will continue to excite the Freo fans. Still just 21, the Lake Grace product has dominated two out of three pre-season games he has played. His contested ball abilities are elite. If he can improve his kicking efficiency, Fyfe could be on the way to becoming the total package.

We have learnt that the second half of 2012 was just a tickle on the tastebuds of what Michael Walters is capable of. ‘Son Son’ has showcased a vast array of sublime skills over the pre-season, headlined by his mesmerising kicking abilities. If Walters’ is not kicking the goals himself, the club’s leading forwards should be the ones dining on his delightful delivery all season long.

We have learnt that Michael Barlow will enter this season in the best shape of his career. While the fallout from his 2010 leg break has impacted his past two years, Mick has been all-systems-go from day-dot this time around.  

We have learnt that Jon Griffin and Zac Clarke are likely to share the ruck duties in Aaron Sandilands’ absence. The pair split time against the Western Bulldogs in Mandurah. That appears to be the best indicator of the plan for West Coast in round 1.

We have learnt that Adam McPhee’s position in defence is still up for grabs. Garrick Ibbotson has been touted as a player capable of playing the role, but he was left out of the side for the Mandurah game. Alex Silvagni has been training to become a player capable of playing on smalls or talls. But he hasn’t appeared in Freo’s past two NAB Cup matches and is unavailable in round 1 because of a suspension from last season’s semi-final in Adelaide.