We are coming up to the bye and sit a couple of years into a full scale list overhaul with a massive emphasis on youth, supported by the recruitment of early-mid career ex-WA players. One of the big question marks hanging over all of that has been the coach and his record with developing and playing the youth. His resume has revealed a coach who performs well with established, mature players who he grinds wins out of with an effort based game plan. His accusers have described him as not having the skill-set to develop a list, is not attacking enough, and who does not give enough freedom to players to use what elite skills they may have at their disposal.
I look at the reality of how the young players and how they have been developing and must say i am pretty happy with how they are trending. It is not difficult to put up examples, and Cerra currently sits in that spotlight. But there is a raft of other examples;
He is an easy target, and I think the coach deserves scrutiny. They are such a pivotal part of a team that I believe that if a clearly better option is ever available to a club, then they should take it. But if you haven't been able to pick it up already with all the smoke that accompanies a rebuild, then the make up of our squad informs us all that there is change happening. It is towards a game plan full of speed, skill and footballing nous. It is aggressive and attacking. We saw some of the characteristic pressure that is Lyon's signature on the weekend mixed in as well. It is a potent brew.
I look at the reality of how the young players and how they have been developing and must say i am pretty happy with how they are trending. It is not difficult to put up examples, and Cerra currently sits in that spotlight. But there is a raft of other examples;
- A Pearce and Ryan look like locks in what is looking like the most exciting defence that the club has ever put together.
- Cerra and Brayshaw have the capacity to underpin some already well developed midfield options including Neale, Langdon and Blakely. Plus there are some babes in the woods in terms of youth who are also being given opportunities with an exciting debut from Giro to add to Banfield and Crowden's debuts.
- In the much criticised forward line we have just witnessed a magnificent break-out game by a young Cox, a player who has been maligned on here despite being still wet behind the ears. The club has been regularly sledged on here about skills development, yet Cox has taken his kicking issues and transformed himself into a dangerous forward. We have also seen the evolution of Taberner from rookie list into an established best 22 player with a second string to his bow, and I credit Lyon's persistence in large part for that.
- In the ruck we have rarely been as excited about a debutante's early contributions as Darcy. The excitement at the draft event when we selected him was palpable, but his development has also been excellent.
- The wafl is a legitimate development tool and the alliance has been fruitful for the club. Taberner is the poster boy for this, but there is a clear opportunity being given to players to drop back there and develop some areas of their game.
He is an easy target, and I think the coach deserves scrutiny. They are such a pivotal part of a team that I believe that if a clearly better option is ever available to a club, then they should take it. But if you haven't been able to pick it up already with all the smoke that accompanies a rebuild, then the make up of our squad informs us all that there is change happening. It is towards a game plan full of speed, skill and footballing nous. It is aggressive and attacking. We saw some of the characteristic pressure that is Lyon's signature on the weekend mixed in as well. It is a potent brew.
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