Something Is Missing

[damienc]

The Saints, at this current moment, are easy pickings when it comes to monumental criticism.

Lord knows they’ve copped it and some, on this forum.

Some deserved. Some not so much.

I too have big concerns. Not talking here about the coaching or the game plan or the lack of basic common football sense.

My biggest concern is that not one St Kilda player looks like they are having fun. Yes fun.

I know it’s a professional game. It’s a job. A very well paid job at that. But footy is still meant to be fun. Running around with your mates and kicking the ball. It’s fun or it’s meant to be.

But our team never look like they are having fun. Playing is also for the joy of the game, it’s why you gather round and sing the song in the dressing room every time you win.

I desperately want us to be successful. To win another premiership before I die, but no successful footy team will ever tell you they owe their success to being suffocated by over thinking or following coaches instructions to the letter.

There has to be some creative freedom. A license to make stuff up, to adapt. The players don’t play like they have any of that.

Ultimately it’s the 18 guys on the field who will decide winning or losing. A big part of that ultimately comes down to making the players enjoy what they do as well as being good at it.

Our players look and act like they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. Maybe it’s the weight of expectation. I’m sure that’s been drummed into them. No premiership for 68 years etc etc.

There is nothing wrong with accountability. But it can’t be so overburdening that you’re not prepared to try something because the coaches are going to give you a hard time if it doesn’t work.

Footy is still fun. You know I still remember when the AFL was the VFL and we had clubs like Footscray and Fitzroy and South Melbourne and after every match people would stream onto the ground and kick the footy to each other. That was fun.

Times change. I get it.

I want our team to win. But I also want them to have fun. To enjoy what they do as well as be good at it.

It’s missing from our club. And we need to get it back.

Pronto.

[mbogo]

They sure looked like they were having fun to me - when celebrating Wood's 4th and singing the song!

[asiu]

Aeon reckons
whats missing is
recognition

... and i quote

Don't tell Phil, but, we've (still) never lost in Perth under Ro$$y's cho aching.

[Vortex]

We haven't had access to our first choice players for such a long time and yesterday's performance, specifically the last quarter showed what is possible when coaches have more talent at their disposal.

Have a look at the players we had back in the forward line.

King going out of the game and getting Buttler in made a massive difference to the energy and intestity. It's a bit harsh but I think King brings the mood down for our players if we are talking about fun, I also think Steele's mood can really effect our players, his attitude was much better yesterday but he needs to learn how to generate more positivity during games, maybe smile every now and then when one of our players does something good.

It's the optics sometimes for what is considered good leadership.

[samuraisaint]

Membrey certainly looked happy.

[Otiman]

Thought the mood was back this week.

Last week was as bad as i'd seen it.

[Teflon]

Theory 27 - players aren’t having fun
Cmon FFS these are professional athletes not Auskickers
Who has fun losing ????
Looked pretty happy at the siren to me???
Honestly

[Josh Battle]

The players generally reflect the positivity radiating from the coach.

Ross's energy and enthusiasm and his confidence in his players was quite low. Perhaps his confidence in in his own ability to develop a young list was low

It's never fun walking on eggshells during the week and then again on game day

Hopefully the coach and the team will get a lot of confidence out of the win

[saynta]

Thought the mood was back this week.

Last week was as bad as i'd seen it.

Yep, as if someone waved a magic wand at half time.

I still believe that Lyin didn't coach the side after half time.

[Otiman]

Can't change a team that quickly.

Lyon is a great match day coach, no doubt about that. We haven't seen games turn our way on a dime like we have in the last 2 years.

He'd be even better if he had 100 runner messages a game.

Unfortunately, he doesn't. So it's up to the players to execute on game day, and it's up to Ross and his team of coaches to make sure they're ready for that so it doesn't need coaches box magic. So far he's not been able to deliver on that front.

The week to week and season to season coaching is what's lacking from Lyon so far. If he is as much of a coaching guru as those make him out to be, he will learn.

[Teflon]

Can't change a team that quickly.

Lyon is a great match day coach, no doubt about that. We haven't seen games turn our way on a dime like we have in the last 2 years.

He'd be even better if he had 100 runner messages a game.

Unfortunately, he doesn't. So it's up to the players to execute on game day, and it's up to Ross and his team of coaches to make sure they're ready for that so it doesn't need coaches box magic. So far he's not been able to deliver on that front.

The week to week and season to season coaching is what's lacking from Lyon so far. If he is as much of a coaching guru as those make him out to be, he will learn.

Again exonerating players and lumping it all on coaches is just dumb
We saw Melb get belted by 100 points today ….poorly coached ??? Their own players skill level was deplorable and they turned it over as nauseum …sound familiar????
Think you’re falling for the 2 card trick and letting perennial Saints player failures off the hook again
Effort and intensity drastically improved second half that’s on players - execute
Midfield- execute
We look a different side
We had not won or broke even in the midfield in weeks …
Sure, Lyon made some great coaching moves ….bht I think you’re looking in the wrong area for the “magic”

[Teflon]

The players generally reflect the positivity radiating from the coach.

Ross's energy and enthusiasm and his confidence in his players was quite low. Perhaps his confidence in in his own ability to develop a young list was low

It's never fun walking on eggshells during the week and then again on game day

Hopefully the coach and the team will get a lot of confidence out of the win

Lyon doesn’t coach on emotion - he coaches on effort
Think unless you are in the inner sanctum you might be just guessing and putting too much emphasis on the coaching…
Players execute second half - didn’t see egg shells …saw improvement in effort and decisions made though ?

[Scollop]

The players generally reflect the positivity radiating from the coach.

Ross's energy and enthusiasm and his confidence in his players was quite low. Perhaps his confidence in in his own ability to develop a young list wa lmks low

It's never fun walking on eggshells during the week and then again on game day

Hopefully the coach and the team will get a lot of confidence out of the win

Lyon doesn’t coach on emotion - he coaches on effort
Think unless you are in the inner sanctum you might be just guessing and putting too much emphasis on the coaching…
Players execute second half - didn’t see egg shells …saw improvement in effort and decisions made though ?

Watch the replay with Ross in the coaches box. Now that's what I call emotion.

Seemed like a fair bit of anger coming from him. You missed the best highlights Teffers

Anyway... no one can top the emotional rollercoaster you went through...Are you ok if we keep some of our players for next year?

Pathetic
Lost from midfield
4-6 goals in red time
Shyte house

I thought you said that only happened under Ratten

Red time goal specialist saints

Membrey….looks good in vfl

Wake up captain.... Jack Steele 0 possessions up until quarter time

Trade bait for mine

And this is the best. B.M makes comments at half-time. Teffers calls him a flog. Changes made as per B.M's post...

Teffers.. at the end of the match says 'good coaching by Lyon'

Teffers

Your hero coach couldn’t get anymore wrong if he fkn tried

The match ups are a disgrace

His style of stifling s*** football is killing the team - especially the forwards!!!

Personally
I’d sack him and get a contemporary coach who understands the modern game

Because the style of footy we play wasn’t successful 15 years ago (with champions)
It certainly won’t work in 2024


4 goals to HT

Couldn't agree more.

You’re a flog BM we know you hate Lyon so stop talking out your arse
The match ups are fine
The player execution is deplorable
We’ve had plenty chances only to see first qtr turnovers from dumb footballers
Spare me you’re dribble

[The Fireman]

That Ben long bloke goes ok

[Vortex]

I encourage all fanatics to re watch the 4th quarter.

Some really good footy played by our guys.

Probably their best quarter.

RoMa should be our next Captain.

[Vortex]

Caminiti is our guy

[Teflon]

Caminiti is our guy

Not sold on that yet
Sharman a natural player…bobbed up won the game for Sandy yesterday..
I’d like to see Sharman allowed to settle in the Membrey role instead of being punted all over the ground

[Vortex]

Caminiti is our guy

Not sold on that yet
Sharman a natural player…bobbed up won the game for Sandy yesterday..
I’d like to see Sharman allowed to settle in the Membrey role instead of being punted all over the ground

Sharman is a really good VFL player.

AFL not so much.

[cwrcyn]

It's been a slog with key players missing in the first 8 rounds. That adds a lot more responsibility on the senior players left to carry the load, especially when very green youngsters were added to the team, making that load even greater. Anyone who thinks that doesn't effect performance and energy is naive. Slogging away while waiting for more troops to arrive can be demoralising when you're not playing well.

This week we had our best team in for the year and after half time things started to look more cohesive. Throw Crouch back in and we'll be better again.

Winning will fix the mood.

[Vortex]

This week we had our best team in for the year and after half time things started to look more cohesive. Throw Crouch back in and we'll be better again.

Winning will fix the mood.

Nailer it.

Going to be a tough game next week. GCS have what it takes to be top 4.

[Teflon]

Caminiti is our guy

Not sold on that yet
Sharman a natural player…bobbed up won the game for Sandy yesterday..
I’d like to see Sharman allowed to settle in the Membrey role instead of being punted all over the ground

Sharman is a really good VFL player.

AFL not so much.

Sharman hasn’t settled in a position yet we’ll see

[Scollop]

As you say, it's difficult when there's mass changes every week Team is now settled...so no changes for next week. Crouch helps mentor our VFL squad. Winning form is good form.

[Teflon]

This week we had our best team in for the year and after half time things started to look more cohesive. Throw Crouch back in and we'll be better again.

Winning will fix the mood.

Nailer it.

Going to be a tough game next week. GCS have what it takes to be top 4.

As long as we don’t jump Hawks but show some connection…I leave happy
Top 5 draft picks far more important to where we are at
Do that ..snag a FA …things in the midfield can change quickly..

[Otiman]

Again exonerating players and lumping it all on coaches is just dumb
We saw Melb get belted by 100 points today ….poorly coached ??? Their own players skill level was deplorable and they turned it over as nauseum …sound familiar????
Think you’re falling for the 2 card trick and letting perennial Saints player failures off the hook again
Effort and intensity drastically improved second half that’s on players - execute
Midfield- execute
We look a different side
We had not won or broke even in the midfield in weeks …
Sure, Lyon made some great coaching moves ….bht I think you’re looking in the wrong area for the “magic”

Not sure how you're failing to grasp the simple concept that the coaches are responsible for the growth of the playing group. It's called "coaching" not "strategising". They are coaches, not generals.

Coaches rise and fall with the succcess or failure of the team - that's just how it is. They're responsible for group performance. Players are responsible for their individual performances. Some players (leaders) are also responsible for the performance of their peers.

Everyone shares in the success or failure of the club, and everyone has individual roles to play.

[SaintPav]

The players generally reflect the positivity radiating from the coach.

Ross's energy and enthusiasm and his confidence in his players was quite low. Perhaps his confidence in in his own ability to develop a young list wa lmks low

It's never fun walking on eggshells during the week and then again on game day

Hopefully the coach and the team will get a lot of confidence out of the win

Lyon doesn’t coach on emotion - he coaches on effort
Think unless you are in the inner sanctum you might be just guessing and putting too much emphasis on the coaching…
Players execute second half - didn’t see egg shells …saw improvement in effort and decisions made though ?

Watch the replay with Ross in the coaches box. Now that's what I call emotion.

Seemed like a fair bit of anger coming from him. You missed the best highlights Teffers

Anyway... no one can top the emotional rollercoaster you went through...Are you ok if we keep some of our players for next year?

Pathetic
Lost from midfield
4-6 goals in red time
Shyte house

I thought you said that only happened under Ratten

Red time goal specialist saints

Membrey….looks good in vfl

Wake up captain.... Jack Steele 0 possessions up until quarter time

Trade bait for mine

And this is the best. B.M makes comments at half-time. Teffers calls him a flog. Changes made as per B.M's post...

Teffers.. at the end of the match says 'good coaching by Lyon'

Teffers

Your hero coach couldn’t get anymore wrong if he fkn tried

The match ups are a disgrace

His style of stifling s*** football is killing the team - especially the forwards!!!

Personally
I’d sack him and get a contemporary coach who understands the modern game

Because the style of footy we play wasn’t successful 15 years ago (with champions)
It certainly won’t work in 2024


4 goals to HT

Couldn't agree more.

You’re a flog BM we know you hate Lyon so stop talking out your arse
The match ups are fine
The player execution is deplorable
We’ve had plenty chances only to see first qtr turnovers from dumb footballers
Spare me you’re dribble

You have highlighted hypocrisy squared.

Priceless.