I love that we love Ross Lyon

Milan Faletic · Thu 01 Oct 2009 2:54pm

It is so refreshing that we, as supporters, haven't pounced on the coach. It shows how far the club has come in the last ten years.

We are now a professionally run organisation that has quality people in administration, coaching, players and supporters, and is primed for success on and off the field.

Sure we are disappointed by the loss, but the team that represented the St Kilda Football Club has represented us with passion, intensity and a spirit that we can all be proud of.

This is not a one off. Our coach has made it clear that he has the big picture in mind and if anyone wants to jump off, they can do it now.

An interesting statistic is that out of 44 St Kilda coaches, Ross Lyon is 5th in number of games coached.

In 2010, we will be fitter, stronger and more experienced than this year. The coaches will also be mentally stronger and more experienced from 2009. No need to hit the panic button. 10% to 15% improvement, a bit of fine tuning, and the inclusion of some of our younger players and I believe we will be there again with a steely resolve this time.

Goodnight.

saintnick12 · Thu 01 Oct 2009 3:13pm

Agreed. Ross' reputation has only grown though the experience. He has handled himself extremely well and done himself proud. His interviews have been great. He protected the players in Grand Final week, has handled difficult selction decisions particularly well. He has praised his boys for their efforts etc and has not put anyone down personally in public, rather a general comment that we didn't make the most of our opportunities. He has also admitted some of his own errors for the day. He has showed that he believes there is "unfinished business" and that he will do whatever it takes to achieve the ulitimate success for the club.

As an ex Fitzroy fan, I have always loved Ross, but the way he has improved since those early days where he had such a seige mentality and struggled with the media. Now he seems to really enjoy it, and every interview I see with him is enlightening.

Roll on 2010!! When is the first pre-season game....lol...

barks4eva · Post: # 838719Post **barks4eva** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 3:17pm

Being the visionary that I am, I loved him from day one,

I must admit it is nice to see the nuffies, disbelievers and those "I'll wait and see" types

finally start to get a clue, even if they need it spelt out for them in neon lights,

being a visionary is not easy, knew we had the real deal, yet you also know you have to wait a couple of years before most others start to wake up and get a clue! sigh

After his third game when we got smashed by Port, I said to him at TBO, I know you will be a great coach for us,

then log in here and the dumbed down dingbats and dongbongers, still pining for their Thomas in wonderland fairy story are calling him a clown, a dinosaur, etc...etc...

anyway I digress,

Ross Lyon is a great coach and we're very lucky to have him!

reincarnated · Thu 01 Oct 2009 3:21pm

barks4eva wrote:Being the visionary that I am, I loved him from day one,

I must admit it is nice to see the nuffies, disbelievers and those "I'll wait and see" types finally start to get a clue, even if they need it spelt out for them in neon lights,

being a visionary is not easy, knew we had the real deal, yet you also know you have to wait a couple of years before most others start to wake up and get a clue! sigh

After his third game when we got smashed by Port, I said to him at TBO, I know you will be a great coach for us,

then log in here and the dumbed down dingbats and dongbongers, still pining for their Thomas in wonderland fairy story are calling him a clown, a dinosaur, etc...etc...

anyway I digress,

Ross Lyon is a great coach and we're very lucky to have him!

Like B4E, Reincarnated found the appointment the best one. Until a team is first or second most nuffies cannot really disect a football match and figure out what a team is doing.

El Wood · Post: # 838721Post **El Wood** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 3:22pm

We still lost.

Milan Faletic · Thu 01 Oct 2009 3:28pm

El Wood wrote:We still lost.

So did Geelong last year. Have faith.

spert · Post: # 838754Post **spert** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 4:02pm

Ross' record looks pretty good -last year we got into the finals and were easily beaten, Ross fixed a few things and we got into the grand final this year and almost won, although we walked over and passed the game to the Cats on platter, having blown it totally. Logically, Ross will go away and tweak a few things, and we will will the big one in 2010 -no reason why not.

bigred · Post: # 838756Post **bigred** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 4:04pm

Yeah I am a convert.

In his first season I honestly wondered wtf he was doing.

I have absolute faith that he is the right man at the right time.

I think this is the first time I have been so sure of a St Kilda Coach.

stinger · Post: # 838770Post **stinger** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 4:18pm

i think ross would be the first to admit...that like his players...there is still room for improvement.....don't get carried away too far.....

...and in saying that...i still believe that ross is the best bet yet we have had for adding to our solitary premiership cups....

keep the faith guys.....i am....

Iceman234 · Post: # 838771Post **Iceman234** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 4:19pm

bigred wrote:Yeah I am a convert.

In his first season I honestly wondered wtf he was doing.

I have absolute faith that he is the right man at the right time.

I think this is the first time I have been so sure of a St Kilda Coach.

Exactly what bigred said.

barks4eva · Post: # 838873Post **barks4eva** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 6:33pm

bigred wrote:
In his first season I honestly wondered wtf he was doing.

The players were wondering wtf we actually have to learn a game plan!

Ross Lyon was at the mercy of the mess that he inherited in his first season, which aside from anything else was a very unfit group of players who got the shock of their lives when they did their first preseason under him.

He has had time to rebuild the list with some smart trading, the players have massively improved their fitness base etc...etc... but make no mistake the ship turned from the moment he was appointed, not just half way through last year or this season.

bigred · Post: # 838877Post **bigred** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 6:39pm

GT was a visionary.

Especially after a few reds.

Milton66 · Post: # 838882Post **Milton66** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 6:44pm

bigred wrote:GT was a visionary.

Especially after a few reds.

Yes, but I don't think he's qualified to comment on other visionaries.

The Fireman · Thu 01 Oct 2009 6:45pm

I just love the love.

Halo-9 · Post: # 838885Post **Halo-9** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 6:49pm

Very assuring,,has the whole playing group willing to sacrifice,work harder etc etc,,even milne,never really one to chase n tackle now goes 100% to tackle if he doesnt have the footy.

Rossy Lyon = Saints Footy

Saints Love = Saints Supporters

squiz · Post: # 838920Post **squiz** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 7:44pm

I think stinger said it best.
Ross is/will be good for the ST's,
But he does make mistakes
He seems very head stong. which can be good and bad.
Maybe his team sellections were not spot on.
Maybe during the game he could have tried more
to get the forward structure functioning better. Maybe
So don't let him off to easy. A GF win would be nice.

3rd generation saint · Thu 01 Oct 2009 8:22pm

Actually I have to say after hearing Ross Lyon's speech Saturday night that he sounded a lot like 3 previous coaches after they had just lost a Grand Final.
Ron Barassi 1974, Kevin Sheedy 1983, Mick Malthouse 1991.
We all know what happened the following year with the teams they coached.

rodgerfox · Post: # 838988Post **rodgerfox** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 9:11pm

I don't love Ross Lyon.

I like him, he's a good guy.

But his coaching throughout the finals deserves scrutiny.

He is as much as fault as the guys who panicked on the day last week.

We had a few people at the club, Lyon included who didn't handle the big occasion very well. People who made errors when it counted.

Selection was wrong. Tactics were wrong. Interchange use was wrong.

He had a good year. But certainly not 'love worthy'. Milne had a good year too.

SainterK · Post: # 838992Post **SainterK** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 9:15pm

rodgerfox wrote:I don't love Ross Lyon.

I like him, he's a good guy.

But his coaching throughout the finals deserves scrutiny.

He is as much as fault as the guys who panicked on the day last week.

We had a few people at the club, Lyon included who didn't handle the big occasion very well. People who made errors when it counted.

Selection was wrong. Tactics were wrong. Interchange use was wrong.

He had a good year. But certainly not 'love worthy'. Milne had a good year too.

Are these your opinions, or gleaned from his own admissions?

rodgerfox · Post: # 838996Post **rodgerfox** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 9:20pm

SainterK wrote:
rodgerfox wrote:I don't love Ross Lyon.

I like him, he's a good guy.

But his coaching throughout the finals deserves scrutiny.

He is as much as fault as the guys who panicked on the day last week.

We had a few people at the club, Lyon included who didn't handle the big occasion very well. People who made errors when it counted.

Selection was wrong. Tactics were wrong. Interchange use was wrong.

He had a good year. But certainly not 'love worthy'. Milne had a good year too.
Are these your opinions, or gleaned from his own admissions?

Both.

saintsRrising · Thu 01 Oct 2009 9:55pm

rodgerfox wrote:I don't love Ross Lyon.

I like him, he's a good guy.

But his coaching throughout the finals deserves scrutiny.

He is as much as fault as the guys who panicked on the day last week.

We had a few people at the club, Lyon included who didn't handle the big occasion very well. People who made errors when it counted.

Selection was wrong. Tactics were wrong. Interchange use was wrong.

He had a good year. But certainly not 'love worthy'. Milne had a good year too.

Yes sack Lyon.

Lyon is a coach that is honest and constantly questions himself...and his players...and seeks improvement....

That Lyon has been brutally honest about the GF and has openly indicated few what-if's post match (much as we all have) is a sign of his ability...rather than his flaws.

I am very confident in Lyon and his methodolgy in taking us forward.

Was Lyon 100% perfect .. = no?

Did he do most things right this year and in the finals = yes.

Expect eternal perfection and you will be eternally disappointed.
What I expect and hope for is a consistently good effort and constant improvement. In Lyon you have both.

Lyon was clearly coach of the year in 2009....and we should be very grateful that he is the St Kilda coach.

PS:...and the St Kilda players did not panic...yes some rushed their shots on goal...but a "panicked" team does not grind out a 4 quarter effort like that..118 tackles and a huge % of contested football equals a team that is up and about....

Jimmy1972 · Post: # 839025Post **Jimmy1972** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 10:01pm

Did he not just get us to a Grand Final, and minor premiership with 20 games in a season? How long has he been there? How much better as a club are we?

Anything else.

Yep why not sack him

SainterK · Post: # 839027Post **SainterK** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 10:06pm

rodgerfox wrote:
SainterK wrote:
rodgerfox wrote:I don't love Ross Lyon.

I like him, he's a good guy.

But his coaching throughout the finals deserves scrutiny.

He is as much as fault as the guys who panicked on the day last week.

We had a few people at the club, Lyon included who didn't handle the big occasion very well. People who made errors when it counted.

Selection was wrong. Tactics were wrong. Interchange use was wrong.

He had a good year. But certainly not 'love worthy'. Milne had a good year too.
Are these your opinions, or gleaned from his own admissions?
Both.

Given that by his own admission he brought up some late 4th quarter tactics, some interchange misunderstandings regarding Ball....I assume that selection being wrong is the only part of the above that is your opinion?

rodgerfox · Post: # 839033Post **rodgerfox** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 10:14pm

SainterK wrote:
rodgerfox wrote:
SainterK wrote:
rodgerfox wrote:I don't love Ross Lyon.

I like him, he's a good guy.

But his coaching throughout the finals deserves scrutiny.

He is as much as fault as the guys who panicked on the day last week.

We had a few people at the club, Lyon included who didn't handle the big occasion very well. People who made errors when it counted.

Selection was wrong. Tactics were wrong. Interchange use was wrong.

He had a good year. But certainly not 'love worthy'. Milne had a good year too.
Are these your opinions, or gleaned from his own admissions?
Both.
Given that by his own admission he brought up some late 4th quarter tactics, some interchange misunderstandings regarding Ball....I assume that selection being wrong is the only part of the above that is your opinion?

Both situations that you mention were my opinion prior to Lyon fessing up to them.

So yeah, the selections mistakes are my opinion aswell.

rodgerfox · Post: # 839036Post **rodgerfox** » Thu 01 Oct 2009 10:15pm

Jimmy1972 wrote:Did he not just get us to a Grand Final, and minor premiership with 20 games in a season? How long has he been there? How much better as a club are we?

Anything else.

Yep why not sack him

Sorry, but who wants him sacked?