Bringing St Kilds people back to Moorabbin

[saynta]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bri ... 5e1bq.html
“Can’t repeat the past? Why, of course you can!”

So said Jay Gatsby to his friend Nick Carraway in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby of his obsession to win back the love of his life Daisy Buchanan.

A year ago, the Saints were unhappy with the present, the future appeared bleak, and their best option lay in the past.

As jilted as the Saints were when Ross Lyon broke their hearts 12 years ago, in this story the man dubbed “Ross the Boss” is no Daisy, though he does represent as close to a golden time as St Kilda has had.
Ross Lyon with his former player Brendon Goddard, now St Kilda’s development coach.

Ross Lyon with his former player Brendon Goddard, now St Kilda’s development coach.Credit: AAP

The club’s tortured history is part of football folklore – one flag in 126 seasons against 27 wooden spoons – but under Lyon it was a formidable force.

If not for Matthew Scarlett’s iconic toe poke in the 2009 grand final, or the devilish bounce for Stephen Milne a year later, the Saints could have been back-to-back premiers – and Lyon would forever hold a place in the hearts and minds of anyone in the red, white and black.

Even without the silverware, Lyon is a celebrated figure at Linton Street. He is the face of the club. His coaching record is second only to Allan Jeans, who delivered the club its only flag. Former president Andrew Plympton has Lyon in the club’s top three most important off-field people. Favourite son Leigh Montagna is rapt at how Lyon has brought St Kilda people back to St Kilda.
Bringing The Band Back Together

One of the first things you notice when you enter St Kilda headquarters at Moorabbin is a giant picture of the Saints’ longest-serving captain Nick Riewoldt which overlooks reception. It can see everyone who enters the club.
Advertisement

The symbolism is hard to ignore given his perceived role in Lyon’s return, and the significant involvement many from the class of 2009-10 have at the club. The Saints have brought the band back together.

The club’s former on-field spiritual leader Lenny Hayes is an assistant coach, a role he had agreed to before former coach Brett Ratten’s departure, along with dual Brownlow medallist and games record-holder Robert Harvey. Former champion Brendon Goddard has returned in a development role to mentor the club’s rising stars. Another, Nick Dal Santo, is the coach of the AFLW team. Justin Koschitzke works in the Danny Frawley Centre for Health & Wellbeing. A former Lyon footsoldier Jason Blake is the Saints’ football director.
Ross Lyon with assistant coach Lenny Hayes, a former St Kilda champion.

Ross Lyon with assistant coach Lenny Hayes, a former St Kilda champion.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

“It’s certainly exciting. It brings that element of bringing St Kilda people back to the club,” said Saints great Montagna, a two-time All-Australian turned respected Fox Footy pundit.

“They bleed it, grown up there or spent a fair portion of their life there. It just means a helluva lot to them.”

Said Plympton, president during the Save Our Saints tin rattle in 1995 and their near fairytale in 1997: “What Ross has done is allow the club to not feel so negative about itself. I know there’s only one premiership there, and it’s about fighting for premierships, but part of St Kilda was fighting to stay alive.

“What he’s added is a level of respect to all the kids and young people coming in that it’s not a club built on failure, a lack of success or discipline. You meet the Harveys, Hayes, Riewoldts, you get to respect they’re as good as anyone. There’s some bloody good people at the St Kilda Football Club.”
Has Ross Changed?

Lyon’s third coming as coach has come with the moniker of “Cuddly Ross”, a reference to a perceived softer and more empathetic approach to players, staff and even the media. It is true to a point.

In previous roles, Lyon had a reputation of being a hard taskmaster who could be difficult to work for, but track watchers at Moorabbin have observed a senior coach more trusting of his assistants, a natural byproduct of having people he has worked with.
Ross Lyon has changed his approach in his third stint as a senior coach.

Ross Lyon has changed his approach in his third stint as a senior coach.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

“First time around as coach, Ross was the driver of the ship,” Montagna said. “He really steered it all. We have really fond memories and high respect for how he went about it. It was hard but it was fair. It was always about actions and never personal.

“You do hear he’s less hands on the wheel third time around in regards to driving all the game plans and the reviews, from what I’ve heard and understand.

“He’s certainly allowed the assistant coaches to take the reins a bit more, which is part of his development and him being comfortable with how long he’s been around the system. He’s probably done that because he’s got high-quality assistants that he can trust.”

Lyon believes he is now a more relaxed coach because he has delegated more.

“I probably get to the line a bit fresher. There is that nervous anxiety, there’s no doubt about that, but you feel like you’re alive,” Lyon said. “You can’t buy this experience and I’m fortunate to be in a position working with a club and a group of young players and coaches to try and achieve something.”

The hard edge remains. Lyon’s record commands respect. His reputation precedes him.
Brad Hill and Ross Lyon are close from their time at Fremantle.

Brad Hill and Ross Lyon are close from their time at Fremantle.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

“I don’t think he’s too cuddly,” said Brad Hill, a favourite of Lyon from their days at Fremantle. “He might have one or two players he might be cuddly with. He still keeps you on your toes, for sure.”

When Saints players reported back for training after Christmas, “90 per cent of the list ran PBs” in the time trial, ruckman Rowan Marshall said. He attributed the fear of Lyon as a factor for the lift in training standards, an issue which sparked a sharp verbal joust between Riewoldt and Ratten in July.

“I guess that’s what a new coach does,” Marshall said. “Everyone wants to impress the new coach, everyone’s definitely worked pretty hard.”
The Game Plan

The Saints of 2023 are typical of sides coached by Ross Lyon. Defence-oriented and miserly, they stifle opposition sides, forcing them to kick into parts of the ground they ideally would avoid. Effort is a non-negotiable.

Their points against was the lowest of the home-and-away season but, with Max King and Tim Membrey limited to 10 and seven games respectively, they ranked bottom four for scoring.

“In regards to visually and how they play, it’s almost like Ross hasn’t changed at all,” Montagna said.

“He’s still got his fingerprints all over a team that give maximum effort, high accountability, defend first, rewards role players and gets players to play at almost their maximal potential.

“From that point of view, it’s the same Ross that coached us and at Fremantle.”
Editor's pick
Mitch Owens.
AFL 2023
The soaring Saint who wants to play like Dusty Martin
Media Ross

Former Collingwood president and prominent football figure Eddie McGuire has noted a new “statesman-like” Lyon, borne from his time in the media as an analyst for Nine on Footy Classified and Triple M.

Such a description is at odds with the Lyon of 2013, who infamously berated 3AW reporter Shane McInnes with his “you’re quite brilliant” sledge after a finals victory in Geelong, or the Lyon who erred on the side of insularity to shield his players from the outside.

This newfound respect of the Fourth Estate, McGuire said, came after Lyon saw first-hand behind the scenes how hard journalists worked on stories.

“I think sometimes there’s a feeling in football clubs the media just turn up and make it up,” McGuire said. “I think he was a bit surprised to see the phones ringing on a Wednesday night, myself and Caro [Caroline Wilson], and how it actually works.

“Ross has gone back in feeling he’s widely regarded for his special comments on Triple M, and his comments on Footy Classified. He’s moved into a statesman-like role in footy.”
Can The Saints Recreate The Past?

Even with Lyon back on board, few gave the Saints much hope of making the eight, let alone scaling the heights of 2009-10.

“I wasn’t thinking they’d be playing finals at the start of this year,” Montagna said. “I thought they’d be a long-term play with Ross. They’d sort out the list, the style and environment they wanted to develop to build a premiership list.

“He’s probably exceeded my expectations, but in saying that it hasn’t been a surprise me with what I know about him as a coach, and the coaching group they’ve got, a playing group that is all committed and bought in.”

Internally, the Saints have taken an “anything is possible” approach in what Lyon has described as a “year of exploration”.

“I don’t think you can exceed your expectations, but you can fulfil your possibility,” Lyon said. “I think we’re fulfilling what’s possible for us.”

As for repeating the past?

“Hopefully, he goes one better,” Montagna said. “That’s the aim.”

[Sainter_Dad]

Paywall Saynta

[saynta]

Paywall Saynta

OK Fixed...just for you.