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Interview with Ross Lyon on the Saints website. Notable for a few things:
- Luke Holmesby was obviously told not to ask about Luke Ball.
- Lyon actually mentions Ball as a leader of the club
- Names Armo, Steven, Geary, Raph and Eddy as the ones to step up
- This means Raph is not being delisted - there's one rumour debunked
- Names Heyne, Lynch, Cahill and Stanley as those most likely to debut
- veeeeeery coy on whether Maguire will be delisted
Ross Lyon: one on one
By Luke Holmesby 6:38 AM Tue 20 October, 2009
You came so close to being premiers. What do the Saints have to do to take that next step and win a flag?
We’re certainly not talking about premierships - that’s an easy way to get lost. We don’t look that far ahead. We’re focusing on finalising our list. It’s a matter of what comes up in order and we also want to get some more talent through the door in the national and rookie drafts. We want to improve individually and collectively, which is what we did at the end of last year. We will benchmark ourselves against the competition and then see where we sit in a lot of areas and the trend of the game. We think we’re right on that and we go back to a week at a time pursuing excellence.
Have you identified one specific area to work on?
The main thing that stands out is maintaining defence and contests and trying to find another goal a week to put you in the top two. This year in contests we were ranked No.2, defence No.1 and attack No.4. It doesn’t sound a lot but ultimately over the 22 weeks it is.
How important is Andrew Lovett’s arrival at the club?
I think every club would like some speed and goalkicking and he certainly injects some pace into the team and some goalkicking, as does (Brett) Peake. It is something we’ve been trying to identify through the draft as well but it's not easy to come across those unique talents. The proof is going to be in the actions he delivers but he has got a wonderful opportunity at a strong club with strong leaders coming off a strong performance. He’ll have to earn his spot, he won’t be gifted anything but we’ll certainly give him every opportunity.
Is he likely to be played in the midfield?
I think it’s a combination - midfield, forward, maybe a little bit back.
It was an even contribution with so many players improving this year but were there any in particular whose hard work stood out?
I’d agree, they all worked really hard. The hard workers all blend in now because there is a whole group of them. That’s the way we like it, we certainly don’t want to rely on a couple of individuals to do the work and carry the team.
You’ve spoken about the need to constantly improve, how do you feel you have improved as a coach this year?
People can judge that and I’ll let the results do the talking. Three years into the job I’ve grown in some aspects, there’s no doubt about that. I feel media interaction, working with the broadcasters and handling the pressure (are areas where I have improved). The players and myself are really united and we all believe in the game plan and our structures and our plan. It has helped us all to grow.
A lot was made about the Saints’ defensive game. Do you expect teams to use your tactics against you next year?
It’s dangerous for me to try and assume what other people are thinking. It’s hard to know until everyone rolls it out. Teams are certainly capable of improving. It was a battle all the way and there were no easy games. I think league teams have their own philosophies.
Will the Saints only make minimal delistings/draft selections?
We have to have three picks in the draft and there are a number of ways that can be constructed to happen. We’re still in the infancy of delistings. There are only a couple of official ones at the minute. Xavier Clarke has been traded to Brisbane, Max [Hudghton] has retired and Lenny [Hayes] goes up to the veterans list. We think we’ve got a healthy list and take no pleasure in delisting players. It will be minimal if we can.
What do you make of the draft pool?
I rely on the club experts to fill me in on the talent. I went up to Canberra to interview 12 or 13 (players) we thought might be around our draft pick. I’ll start to look at tapes next week, there’s no doubt there’s talent in there but you’ve just got to find it.
A lot of players came to the club in last year’s draft, do you expect many of them to step up and play senior footy next year?
To become a good AFL player you’ve got to do a strong apprenticeship, unless you’re absolutely special. The ones we’re looking to improve are David Armitage and Jack Steven as well as (Jarryn) Geary, (Robert) Eddy and Raph Clarke. They are the ones we want to have an impact similar to what (Leigh) Montagna, Clint Jones and (Andrew) McQualter had this year. They’re positioned going into their fourth year to be able to do that. I think (Nick) Heyne, (Tom) Lynch, (Paul) Cahill and (Rhys) Stanley if they can pinch a few games, it would be good. The door’s open for them.
Has Nick Riewoldt improved as a leader this year?
He led wonderfully well. No doubt. We’ve grown together. But the support of (Lenny) Hayes and the whole list, everyone who played senior footy really helped Nick. No doubt he grew.
Is Lenny Hayes the midfield general?
Lenny is really important in there and is vice-captain. It was a real unit, a bit like the defence - a team within a team. I can’t speak highly enough of Lenny but nor can I of (Steven) King, (Michael) Gardiner, (Nick) Dal Santo, Montagna, Clint Jones, (Brendon) Goddard and Luke Ball as well. It’s a very good group in there for leadership. I think Lenny would be the first to say that as well.
How important is it to have that midfield depth?
I don’t know what the precise number is but you need about 10 of quality to go through there. But with the addition of Lovett and Peake there is a bit more pressure. It’s critical because that is where the game is won and lost.
How hard is it going to be for Brett Peake to get a game?
You wouldn’t think it would be easy but we’ve identified his attributes we like. He was looking for a new opportunity. Like everyone on our list there is no guarantee for anyone to get a senior game. It’s about doing the work and delivering the actions and they pick themselves. I want to be really clear about that.
What are some of those attributes you like?
He has elite speed and endurance, a 50m kick, and is a goalkicker. He has certainly got some areas to improve on his kicking but he kicked 14.7 last year from 18 games. His body is in good shape and the most significant injury he has had was a couple of broken collarbones but other than that he is in good nick. We are confident he can pick himself but again, it is up to Brett to do the work because there are no guarantees.
Any changes to the coaching staff?
Everyone is continuing. Everyone’s still here and signed on for 2010. SOS [Steve Silvagni], Leigh Tudor, Tony Elshaug, Danny Ryan, Danny Sexton, Andy Lovell, myself, Matty Drain and Greg Hutchison. Everyone’s here and all our conditioners are here.
Does Matt Maguire have a future at AFL level?
I think everyone’s got a future if they want a future. He’s overseas and we’re still working through our list. He has certainly been a respected player at St Kilda.
- Luke Holmesby was obviously told not to ask about Luke Ball.
- Lyon actually mentions Ball as a leader of the club
- Names Armo, Steven, Geary, Raph and Eddy as the ones to step up
- This means Raph is not being delisted - there's one rumour debunked
- Names Heyne, Lynch, Cahill and Stanley as those most likely to debut
- veeeeeery coy on whether Maguire will be delisted
Ross Lyon: one on one
By Luke Holmesby 6:38 AM Tue 20 October, 2009
You came so close to being premiers. What do the Saints have to do to take that next step and win a flag?
We’re certainly not talking about premierships - that’s an easy way to get lost. We don’t look that far ahead. We’re focusing on finalising our list. It’s a matter of what comes up in order and we also want to get some more talent through the door in the national and rookie drafts. We want to improve individually and collectively, which is what we did at the end of last year. We will benchmark ourselves against the competition and then see where we sit in a lot of areas and the trend of the game. We think we’re right on that and we go back to a week at a time pursuing excellence.
Have you identified one specific area to work on?
The main thing that stands out is maintaining defence and contests and trying to find another goal a week to put you in the top two. This year in contests we were ranked No.2, defence No.1 and attack No.4. It doesn’t sound a lot but ultimately over the 22 weeks it is.
How important is Andrew Lovett’s arrival at the club?
I think every club would like some speed and goalkicking and he certainly injects some pace into the team and some goalkicking, as does (Brett) Peake. It is something we’ve been trying to identify through the draft as well but it's not easy to come across those unique talents. The proof is going to be in the actions he delivers but he has got a wonderful opportunity at a strong club with strong leaders coming off a strong performance. He’ll have to earn his spot, he won’t be gifted anything but we’ll certainly give him every opportunity.
Is he likely to be played in the midfield?
I think it’s a combination - midfield, forward, maybe a little bit back.
It was an even contribution with so many players improving this year but were there any in particular whose hard work stood out?
I’d agree, they all worked really hard. The hard workers all blend in now because there is a whole group of them. That’s the way we like it, we certainly don’t want to rely on a couple of individuals to do the work and carry the team.
You’ve spoken about the need to constantly improve, how do you feel you have improved as a coach this year?
People can judge that and I’ll let the results do the talking. Three years into the job I’ve grown in some aspects, there’s no doubt about that. I feel media interaction, working with the broadcasters and handling the pressure (are areas where I have improved). The players and myself are really united and we all believe in the game plan and our structures and our plan. It has helped us all to grow.
A lot was made about the Saints’ defensive game. Do you expect teams to use your tactics against you next year?
It’s dangerous for me to try and assume what other people are thinking. It’s hard to know until everyone rolls it out. Teams are certainly capable of improving. It was a battle all the way and there were no easy games. I think league teams have their own philosophies.
Will the Saints only make minimal delistings/draft selections?
We have to have three picks in the draft and there are a number of ways that can be constructed to happen. We’re still in the infancy of delistings. There are only a couple of official ones at the minute. Xavier Clarke has been traded to Brisbane, Max [Hudghton] has retired and Lenny [Hayes] goes up to the veterans list. We think we’ve got a healthy list and take no pleasure in delisting players. It will be minimal if we can.
What do you make of the draft pool?
I rely on the club experts to fill me in on the talent. I went up to Canberra to interview 12 or 13 (players) we thought might be around our draft pick. I’ll start to look at tapes next week, there’s no doubt there’s talent in there but you’ve just got to find it.
A lot of players came to the club in last year’s draft, do you expect many of them to step up and play senior footy next year?
To become a good AFL player you’ve got to do a strong apprenticeship, unless you’re absolutely special. The ones we’re looking to improve are David Armitage and Jack Steven as well as (Jarryn) Geary, (Robert) Eddy and Raph Clarke. They are the ones we want to have an impact similar to what (Leigh) Montagna, Clint Jones and (Andrew) McQualter had this year. They’re positioned going into their fourth year to be able to do that. I think (Nick) Heyne, (Tom) Lynch, (Paul) Cahill and (Rhys) Stanley if they can pinch a few games, it would be good. The door’s open for them.
Has Nick Riewoldt improved as a leader this year?
He led wonderfully well. No doubt. We’ve grown together. But the support of (Lenny) Hayes and the whole list, everyone who played senior footy really helped Nick. No doubt he grew.
Is Lenny Hayes the midfield general?
Lenny is really important in there and is vice-captain. It was a real unit, a bit like the defence - a team within a team. I can’t speak highly enough of Lenny but nor can I of (Steven) King, (Michael) Gardiner, (Nick) Dal Santo, Montagna, Clint Jones, (Brendon) Goddard and Luke Ball as well. It’s a very good group in there for leadership. I think Lenny would be the first to say that as well.
How important is it to have that midfield depth?
I don’t know what the precise number is but you need about 10 of quality to go through there. But with the addition of Lovett and Peake there is a bit more pressure. It’s critical because that is where the game is won and lost.
How hard is it going to be for Brett Peake to get a game?
You wouldn’t think it would be easy but we’ve identified his attributes we like. He was looking for a new opportunity. Like everyone on our list there is no guarantee for anyone to get a senior game. It’s about doing the work and delivering the actions and they pick themselves. I want to be really clear about that.
What are some of those attributes you like?
He has elite speed and endurance, a 50m kick, and is a goalkicker. He has certainly got some areas to improve on his kicking but he kicked 14.7 last year from 18 games. His body is in good shape and the most significant injury he has had was a couple of broken collarbones but other than that he is in good nick. We are confident he can pick himself but again, it is up to Brett to do the work because there are no guarantees.
Any changes to the coaching staff?
Everyone is continuing. Everyone’s still here and signed on for 2010. SOS [Steve Silvagni], Leigh Tudor, Tony Elshaug, Danny Ryan, Danny Sexton, Andy Lovell, myself, Matty Drain and Greg Hutchison. Everyone’s here and all our conditioners are here.
Does Matt Maguire have a future at AFL level?
I think everyone’s got a future if they want a future. He’s overseas and we’re still working through our list. He has certainly been a respected player at St Kilda.
