Old Ross,new tricks.

[saynta]

"From the heraldsun.com.au


Old Ross, new tricks

Watching St Kilda feels like talking to the wrong identical twin. Everything looks the same, but something is different, and it’s hard to put your finger on it.

So much of Ross Lyon II at St Kilda looks like Ross Lyon I, but so much is pleasingly different.

St Kilda was 8-3 under Brett Ratten last year, was in the top four and spent most of the season in the eight before falling over. So, the nucleus of a team that was capable of competing with the best teams was already there. Lyon has not inherited a basket case and voila turned them into a juggernaut – Ratten did a lot right with them.

But St Kilda this year do look different. They are playing differently. Ross Lyon teams are never easy to score against, and he has introduced that structural shift at the Saints. They position themselves well without the ball to make it hard for the opposition to move it and score. Again they have the Ross Lyon strangulation about them.
St Kilda’s newcomer Anthony Caminiti celebrates a goal in the win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

St Kilda’s newcomer Anthony Caminiti celebrates a goal in the win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night.Credit:Getty Images

What looks like a new iteration for a Lyon side is the speed of ball movement and the daring with the way they will play. There’s a sense of adventure that has not been a hallmark of Lyon’s teams previously. They are braver than before with the risks they take kicking and opening up the ground.

There was a second quarter kick from Bradley Hill at half-back that found Seb Ross across the ground on the far wing which typified the licence Lyon seems to have given the players to take risks with their ball movement. In two kicks, it was inside 50 metres and the Saints were shooting for goal.

They are playing with an infectious energy. They pressure the man and the ball, which is not unusual for Lyon’s teams, but the urgency to play on and get the ball moving is exciting and different.
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They take the ball out of the front of the pack with Richmond/Collingwood-style forward handball as often as they can. The contrast with the Dogs on Saturday night could not have been more stark. With superior numbers at the contest and high pressure, they forced the Dogs to retreat from packs, each handball simply drew more pressure as they conceded territory.
Jade Gresham of the Saints celebrates a goal against the Western Bulldogs.

Jade Gresham of the Saints celebrates a goal against the Western Bulldogs.Credit:Getty

Despite the list of quality players who are missing from their team because of injury, the most compelling thing about the Saints was the young players who have had such an impact.

Mattaes Phillipou has played two games and looks to be a 200-game player. Mitch Owens had a look last year, but appears now like a player who thinks he belongs. And Anthony Caminiti is playing like someone who thinks he has nothing to lose. He may not hang onto a spot in the longer term when others return from their fitness issues, but he is a good size, and forwards, like him, who have pace and good hands normally force their way into teams.

The conclusion here is not that St Kilda is now a flag fancy, but that the first two rounds demonstrate they are a finals threat. They are a palpably different team playing with the mark of their new coach.
The Saints have a good mix of defence and dare under Ross Lyon.

The Saints have a good mix of defence and dare under Ross Lyon.Credit:Getty Images

This is a Saints team that lost its way in the second half of last year, but has now shown signs they have found themselves again. They have the look of a finals team.

Which, presently, is not what the Bulldogs look. You can allow for rogue round-one results – Brisbane and Port showed that with their respective performances in round two – but losing twice by 50-plus points does not look rogue for the Dogs.

Last week, they could console themselves that they ran into Melbourne, who looked awesome and remain a premiership favourite.

This week they played a team that missed the eight last year and they were thoroughly outplayed."



Two games is all it took for the scum press to change their tune and jump on side.