Lyon tries an old trick: Herald-Sun Article

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Source: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 72,00.html

Lyon tries an old trick
15 August 2007 Herald Sun
Bruce Matthews

ALBERT Park Lake and surrounding ovals were bathed in sunshine yesterday, but St Kilda players were cooped up in a nearby basketball stadium.

The Saints won after a similar indoor training session earlier in the season, but the rerun had little to do with superstition.

It was borne out of necessity after a grinding battle against Sydney as coach Ross Lyon tries to reinvigorate his players mentally and physically for the clash against Fremantle at Telstra Dome on Saturday.

"We've only done it one other time when it was wet," Lyon said.

"It (Sydney) was a really brutal game and we've got to make sure we come up fresh."

Lyon and his match committee will consider Raphael Clarke, Shane Birss and Brett Voss in what is virtually an elimination final for the ninth-placed Saints against the free-running Dockers.

"From here on in, you can't make any mistakes," Lyon said.

"They're really in the mix as well, they could win all three and get in. If we win three, I think we'll definitely be in.

"The season is well and truly alive. Fremantle has changed a bit (under Mark Harvey), more short kicks, more handballs and key forwards playing well, so it's a really big challenge for us.

"They were a top-four team last year and they've got their critical runners back, (Byron) Schammer, (Brett) Peake and (Jeff) Farmer, and they've restructured their ruck department with (Daniel) Gilmore and (Robert) Warnock.

"They've really got their running game up and going. But it's nice to play at home, there's no doubt about that."

Lyon has no wish to be simply making up the numbers in the final eight, and to be eliminated in the first week.

"You can limp into the finals, sneak in and everyone says St Kilda made the finals. But you actually want to go in with a purpose," he said.

"If you were to win three in a row, you would go in full of confidence with a chance to do something. But if you just limp in, is there much point in that?

"I'm not sure there is. Obviously, it would take a bit of pressure off myself, the president and keep our supporters happy. But you want to be realistic, too."

While St Kilda's win-loss turnaround since the split round can be attributed to a dwindling injury list, Lyon is still loath to expect too much from defender Matt Maguire and onballer Lenny Hayes, both returning from serious leg operations.

"If we think we're seeing the best of Matt Maguire, clearly we're not. But he's serviceable and we're working with him. Every week we see an improvement in Lenny," Lyon said.

"Power forwards, of which we have a couple and they (Dockers) have a few as well. They can also put (Luke) McPharlin there and (Chris) Tarrant. Why are they kicking more goals? It's about their midfield and their run.

"So it's going to be won or lost in the midfield, there's no doubt."

Asked how to stop Dockers skipper Matthew Pavlich, Lyon quipped: "Yeah, we might flood." He probably wasn't joking.