ROSS Lyon says Fremantle's stunning 34-point win over top-of-the-table Geelong highlights the growth of his rebuilding group, almost 12 months on from the Dockers' biggest defeat in history to the Cats. 

But the long-time senior coach isn’t getting caught up in talk Freo's ninth triumph relieves pressure on the club, insisting the team's growth has been lost in the weekly "treadmill" and "hyperbole".

"I wouldn't have thought so. I think the people who are supportive are supportive, I think the people who are driving what they want to drive are driving what they want to drive," Lyon said post-game.

"I think we all know that sitting in this room as I look around."

The Dockers entered Saturday's contest as outsiders after five losses from six games, but are now back in the finals hunt with three rounds to play.

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Their ferocious pressure stopped the Cats dead after the visitors took a 15-point lead into the first change, with a youthful Fremantle line-up standing up after another week of intense speculation on the Dockers' hierarchy and injury management.

"It means four points, really simply. It just highlights our growth in a 12-month period with a young team," Lyon said.

"If you think 23 goals in a row (conceded to Geelong in last year's 133-point defeat), what was made of that, even though we bounced back pretty strongly the next week.

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"We're looking for consistency of performance like that and to have a debutant, ladder leaders, to hear our passionate fans was fantastic. It was like there was 100,000 here. 

"It was pleasing for a young group.

Youngster Jason Carter celebrates with Brandon Matera. Picture: AFL Photos

"We competed fiercely, put a lot of pressure on and that was the simple aim. Aim to make them defend.

"Early we couldn't find them, they had a few easy goals, but I thought we just fought on to get some ascendancy, there was no magic."

Lyon wouldn't be drawn whether the win was the most significant in the Dockers' rebuild, which is nearing completion.  

WATCH Ross Lyon's full post-match media conference

"You can make your own judgement on that, everyone makes judgements continuously," Lyon said. "I haven't got one, I have to go away and assess.

"There's been good growth over a long period of time. That gets lost on the week-to-week treadmill and the week-to-week hyperbole, but over a 12-month period that has been significant.

"I know there's noise around. End of the day, never as good, never as bad (as it seems), I think it's been proven again."

Lyon acknowledged thrilled fans post-game and said he never doubted himself or his coaching ability, despite intense speculation over his future recently.

"It's always nice (fans support). We've all got a little sign hanging around our neck, as Denis Pagan said, 'make me feel important'," he said.

"I don't know if they were the loud minority or loud majority, I think everyone will interpret that how they want to.

"I never doubt myself, never doubt my coaching, never doubt the application, I don't doubt the group."

Lyon denied there was any extra excitement in the box amid Fremantle's streak of seven unanswered goals in the second half, saying his focus was already on St Kilda ahead of a must-win trip to Marvel Stadium.

"We were pretty level (in the box). We're pretty hard-nosed pros. (I've) been to four Grand Finals, few prelims, home and aways don't get you too excited," he said.

"Not for me. For the group I'd imagine, and the fans. My job is to coach to the last second, and that's what I tend to do."