News Breaking the Lyon chain

[Roger Rogerson]

Breaking the Lyon chain

IT'S rare that one game can encapsulate the woes of a season for a team, but St Kilda's performance against Hawthorn last week may just have achieved that.

Interestingly, it may also have provided an insight into the manner in which teams have set about dismantling the game style that propelled the Saints to three grand finals in two years.

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Having such a rigid structure relies on a totally focused, informed and switched-on group.

Anyone who was uncertain of his role in the structure, slow to react or outright lazy was not tolerated. It is understood that is one of the reasons new players found it difficult to break into the established side and, more significantly, maintain the spot long enough to get valuable AFL experience.

The introduction of youth should be seen as a proactive measure to inject spirit, excitement and enthusiasm into any organisation. The Saints, for too long, focused too much on what their kids may not have been able to do, rather than what they could bring to the table.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/breaking-the-lyon-chain-20110520-1ewwy.html#ixzz1N2BpKX3j


Good article.

For mine, the bit in bold above has parallels for Hawthorn's selection policy of the last 2 years in that Clarko played guys who he thought could best implement his gameplan which came at the expense of exposing youngsters to AFL level.

 

[Agent Smith]

It's a tough one. Would Savage, Shiels, Suckers be playing as well last year as they are now if we played them earlier, or are they killing it now because we've developed them slowly but surely to this level of play? Who knows?

I thought last year we were screaming for another tall and was disappointed Lisle didn't get a crack. The trap to seeing our newbies now coming along so well is the call to suddenly bring anyone in to the seniors who shows a sniff of skill. I know I'd love to see Schneider and Wanganeen fulfilling their potential sooner rather than later, but patience is a virtue (or so those slow talking oldies keep telling me, but I never hang around long enough to listen to their explanation why).

 

[grizzlym]

I thought it was a good article. Garry showed some rare deep thinking was indeed possible from the media. Compare it with the drunken tramp and his 'Hawthorn exclusive' this morning.

 

[Arkadia]

For mine, the bit in bold above has parallels for Hawthorn's selection policy of the last 2 years in that Clarko played guys who he thought could best implement his gameplan which came at the expense of exposing youngsters to AFL level.

One thing about Clarko he is a Loyal man.....he backed his troops that won him and the club the grand prize, he knew what they were capable of, sadly though, some of his troops were injured, down on confidence and a lack of pre-season for a few of them.
He believed in them and backed them, unfortunately to the detriment of playing youngsters who were screaming to get game.
Thankfully he has learned from this and 2011 is a clear indication of what lies ahead in the short term and long term future of the Mighty Hawks. I haven't been this excited since the '07&'08 season.