BREAKING a six-game losing streak against Hawthorn is irrelevant to Fremantle coach Ross Lyon but he did say his side would gain some confidence from the win ahead of the finals.
The Dockers laid down a marker to the competition with a 19-point win over the Hawks at Patersons Stadium on Sunday to recalibrate their premiership pursuit.
The Hawks have been a bogey side for Lyon's Dockers, having won each of the past six and nine of the previous 10 matches, including last year's Grand Final.
Fremantle is now one game ahead of fifth-placed Port Adelaide and has a top-four finish firmly in its grasp with matches to come against the Brisbane Lions and the Power.
Lyon said the win on Sunday has no bearing on another potential clash with the Hawks in September.
"It's irrelevant really," Lyon said.
"It means nothing for the future to be truthful."
He did concede that the win would give his side a significant confidence boost after a shaky three-week stretch that produced just one win.
"It firms up belief in what we're asking each other to do and how we want to play," he said.
"That's really what it does. So that helped. When you have losses there's a bit of a seed of doubt.
"If you can deliver against quality it does give you some confidence."
A further boost for the Dockers is the fact that they kicked 17 goals against Hawthorn without their leading goalkicker Hayden Ballantyne.
The dynamic small forward was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury despite declaring himself fit to play.
"I had strong advice he shouldn't play," Lyon said.
"He had met all the KPIs but there was a risk. So it was left with me."
Lyon expected Ballantyne to return for the clash with the Lions next Sunday.
"We've already spoken about Brisbane," Lyon said.
"We're focused. Again, we continue to write our own story if we win.
"I watched (the Lions) play last night. They were really exciting and dangerous."
