Grant Thomas has his say Re: Ross Lyon

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Ross Lyon favourite for Saints' job
11 October 2006 Herald-Sun
Mike Sheahan and Mark Robinson

ROSS Lyon has emerged as the white-hot favourite to coach St Kilda next year, a move backed by sacked coach Grant Thomas.

Lyon, the surprise late candidate for the senior role, is understood to have been given the nod yesterday by the Saints' coaching sub-committee.

St Kilda president Rod Butterss offered a firm ``no comment'' when asked yesterday afternoon whether Lyon was to take the reins.

But it is understood Lyon, an assistant coach at Sydney, will be named today or tomorrow.

As of late last night the other candidates _ Bulldogs assistant coach Chris Bond, Swans assistant coach John Longmire and Collingwood's Guy McKenna, had not heard from the club.

If Lyon is to win the St Kilda job as expected, no one will be happier than the man he replaces.

Thomas last night said the Saints would be in expert hands under Lyon's control, and that he would feel both pleased and vindicated.

The former coach confirmed he had tried to lure Lyon from Sydney to Moorabbin a year ago. He made a two-hour pitch to Lyon at his Brighton home soon after the season, finally offering him a senior role.

Lyon called him a few days later to say he felt honour-bound to complete a commitment to the Swans and a personal commitment to coach Paul Roos.

``I would love to see him take over this group,'' Thomas said.

``I was desperate to get him and I know he could fill the requirements of the role.

``I think he's extremely capable of getting into the driver's seat of this juggernaut and driving it straight ahead straight away.

``I know what he's like and I certainly know what the playing group's like, and I think he's a fantastic fit.''

``That's based on intimate understanding I have of where St Kilda has been, where it currently is and, more importantly, where it needs to go,'' Thomas said. ``He would quickly move everyone in the club forward, which would be good.''

Thomas said he meant no disrespect to the other candidates, only that he knew Lyon and liked what he knew.

The pair go back to 1985, Lyon's first year at Fitzroy and Thomas's last year at AFL level.

``I've got enormous respect for the way he played the game,'' Thomas said. ``If I had to pick a side from the blokes I played with, not that I played in a lot of great sides, he'd be one of the first picked.

``The main reasons I wanted him were that I think he's got great character, great integrity.

``The thing that came through was his absolute selflessness.

``We had a motto at the footy club: You can achieve amazing things when nobody cares who gets the credit. He fits that motto.

``I remember both of us leaving our meeting excited. Basically, in the end, he's a very loyal person and he felt he needed to show his loyalty to his club and to Roosy.

``That personified his character and integrity.''

Thomas, sacked a month ago, said he was ``more desperate than ever'' for St Kilda to have success.

``As I've said, I never had to be the one standing on the dais (on Grand Final day),'' Thomas said.
 

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#2
Gee I rekon his got some big shoes to fill.
If he struggles to meet GT's performance, I can just see Rod Butters sacking him as well.
Hope he does well. I just don't think Rod Butters is a good figure to have around a good team like you guys.
 

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Big Mick from Arden St said:
I can just see Rod Butters sacking him as well.
Hope he does well. I just don't think Rod Butters is a good figure to have around a good team like you guys.
Yeah, he's pulled us out of debt, posted consecutive million dollar profits, massively lifted membership year after year, brought financial stability to the club, presided over the recruitment of big name stars like Gehrig and Hamill at a time when we were a basket case. I can definitely see what you mean. Get rid of Butterss!
 

bubblegoose

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#4
Fehring said:
Yeah, he's pulled us out of debt, posted consecutive million dollar profits, massively lifted membership year after year, brought financial stability to the club, presided over the recruitment of big name stars like Gehrig and Hamill at a time when we were a basket case. I can definitely see what you mean. Get rid of Butterss!
Why stop there! Sack everyone! Bring the complete sydney team down, they can just add a splash of black to their jumpers! Easy! Problem Solved! Every other team's know-nothing idiots will be ecstatic! Hoo rar!

;)
 
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Fehring said:
Yeah, he's pulled us out of debt, posted consecutive million dollar profits, massively lifted membership year after year, brought financial stability to the club, presided over the recruitment of big name stars like Gehrig and Hamill at a time when we were a basket case. I can definitely see what you mean. Get rid of Butterss!
Mate what I'm saying is that Grant Thomas deserves more with where he has taken the team in his time.
Butters actions of sacking Thomas has the potential to derail the team you guys have built.
 

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Big Mick from Arden St said:
Mate what I'm saying is that Grant Thomas deserves more with where he has taken the team in his time.
Butters actions of sacking Thomas has the potential to derail the team you guys have built.
Don't sweat it, Big Mick. We are good to go.
 
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Big Mick from Arden St said:
Mate what I'm saying is that Grant Thomas deserves more with where he has taken the team in his time.
Butters actions of sacking Thomas has the potential to derail the team you guys have built.
In the above article, Thomas promotes the decision as a good one and gets behind the new coach:

"I think he's extremely capable of getting into the driver's seat of this juggernaut and driving it straight ahead, straight away. I know what he's like and I certainly know what the playing group's like, and I think he's a fantastic fit."

I think Thomas did this to bring everyone back into the fold as St Kilda fans as opposed to factions favouring the old regime, those favouring the new and anyone else who may have their nose out of joint somewhat.

You are right - there was potential to do harm to the club by sacking Thomas, and I admire the way that Thomas has held himself in these times. He certainly has class. He is still holding the club and the team more important than the individual - something he expected of his players, and something he has shown he holds true to, even through an ordeal like a sacking (and being gagged at the B & F).

His replacement, Ross Lyon, will do a fine job. The club is in good hands.
 

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#8
StKildonan said:
You are right - there was potential to do harm to the club by sacking Thomas, and I admire the way that Thomas has held himself in these times. He certainly has class. He is still holding the club and the team more important than the individual - something he expected of his players, and something he has shown he holds true to, even through an ordeal like a sacking (and being gagged at the B & F).

His replacement, Ross Lyon, will do a fine job. The club is in good hands.
Well said. :thumbsu:

Thommo is a St Kilda person through and through and the dignified manner in which he has conducted himself since the sacking is a testament to the man that he is.

We've come a long way since the dark old days of 2000/2001 and I look forward to Ross Lyon taking us to the next level.
 
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