ROSS Lyon has detailed why Fremantle released a strongly worded statement shooting down a report he showed interest in replacing Nathan Buckley as Collingwood coach, declaring the claim "struck at the heart" of his commitment to the Dockers.

Radio broadcaster Brad Hardie received a fierce response from the club following his comments that Lyon approached the Pies through a third party.

The story exploded on Sunday after the Dockers emphatically dismissed the report via a statement.

"It's about more than myself. It struck at the heart of my commitment to the rebuild and what we're doing – we've got a lot of exciting young players, we're all working very hard and it was very undermining," Lyon told Channel Seven.

"I really wanted to have a strong statement and call it for what it was, a blatant fabrication."

Buckley lashes out at media 'fabrications'

Lyon wasn't concerned that by responding to Hardie's comments the club would fuel the reporting of the story.

"We know how the media works, we understand, but on balance it was more important to set the record straight and at some point you've got to stand for something," he said.

"That's what we did as a club, from the president through, so it was calculated. It wasn’t an impulsive decision.

"It needed to be called out for what it was and Eddie McGuire has done the same in Melbourne, so I'd rather be on that side of the fence, as Nathan Buckley did as well, so I think I'm in good company." 

Lyon, who is Freo's longest-serving coach, is contracted to the Dockers until the end of 2020 and insisted he would remain at the club "as long as they want me".

He oversaw the biggest loss of his coaching career on Saturday against Sydney, with Fremantle going down by 104 points.