As the late great comedian Robin Harris said, back in the day, about being pissed, Coach Lyon sounded "pissed off to the highest of pisstivity."
I don't blame him. Mike91 is spot on. The boys should never allow their coach, their supporters, their opposition or most of all THEMSELVES, to question their hunger. What's frustrating is hearing our boys say they knew when play started, they weren't switched on. OK, so then what happens during the quarter time break? Halftime? Three quarter time? Tell you what: The angriest team in any sport I've ever seen anywhere in my lifetime of avid sports watching were the 2000 Essendon Bombers. They took their 1999 Finals elimination so personally, they took it out on the rest of the league the next year and with their overall 24-1 record may be the best team the AFL has ever seen. They were ruthless and bound and determined to dominate. I hoped Freo would come out of the gate this year like that and it seemed as if we did against Collingwood. It's far from too late to switch on, but if there ever was a wake-up call, this is it. Either the boys can choose to compete to be elite, or fall back to the middle of the pack.
As for Josh Simpson, he's still growing into his manhood -- no excuses, but issues are to be expected. Ballaz? He has his annual one-week holiday -- disappointing, but we've come to expect it. Sylvia? Silent Alarm is spot on. Dude should know better. MUCH better. He's not only old enough to know better, but he has a reputation to repair.
Wish I could be a fly on the wall during Coach Lyon's talk today, to the players. Well, then again, flies probably can't understand human communication. Aw hell, you all know what I mean.