Oh When the Saints wrote:If there's one bloke who wouldn't diverge from his chosen course under pressure it is Ross Lyon ...
yep it appears so
see this article
http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/ ... lyon-44115#
NAB Cup not the priority: Lyon
1/03/2008 9:56:10 AM
Paul Gough
Sportal
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Saints down gallant Bombers
Lyon downplays NAB Cup final appearance
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has vowed not to let the Saints' appearance in next week's NAB Cup final interfere with his preparations for the start of the home-and-away season.
Lyon used his superstars sparingly during St Kilda's thrilling three-point semi-final win over Essendon at Telstra Dome on Friday night.
The Saints reached their second pre-season decider in five years despite not only going into the game without key forwards Fraser Gehrig and Justin Koschitkze but also their three best defenders in Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire and Sam Fisher.
In addition, star midfielder Luke Ball sat on the bench for the entire first half before finally making his first appearance of the season in the second half while co-captain Nick Riewoldt was rested for the final term despite the closeness of the scores.
Lyon vowed to take a similar cautious approach against either Adelaide or Hawthorn in next Saturday night's grand final despite the fact there is a trophy at stake.
"Obviously there is another competitive game to get through now and we will have a strong focus on that but we have got to keep in the back of our head round one," he said
"No-one really remembers pre-season do they?"
"I am not going to keep my job winning the NAB Cup, am I?"
Lyon said he would consider bringing back Hudghton and Koschitzke, both rested against the Bombers, for next week's grand final but would not risk any player if they are not 100 per cent fit having lost Gehrig to a calf injury during the quarter-final win over Geelong.
"It (losing Gehrig) heightens your awareness and we held our line tonight (in not giving senior players too much game time regardless of the scores) and we let the kids get some game time instead."
Lyon was delighted with the way his youngsters stood up under pressure on Friday night, praising second-year player David Armitage for his coolness in converting the winning goal from a set shot in the last minute.
"Armitage is a strong inside player who has got his fitness levels up and he is trying to create an opportunity for himself," he said.
While delighted to be through to the NAB Cup grand final, Lyon admitted his team was lucky to beat the Bombers - particularly with the free-kick paid to Armitage which led to the winning goal when Essendon youngster Angus Monfries was penalised for holding the ball just 20 metres from goal.
"You do need a bit of luck and we got a decision that went our way," he said of Armitage's last-minute winning goal.
"You feel for young Monfries but sometimes you need a bit of luck over the course of season but it balances out."
times we coughed and spluttered a bit with our ball use, to see the dash of the young guys and to see them taking the game on was really positive," he said.