Squizz
Brownlow Medallist
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Don't question my love for St Kilda: Ross Lyon
YOU won't see the veins popping out of Ross Lyon's neck, but that doesn't mean he has any less emotion than other AFL coaches.
MARK ROBINSON: What if I said to you right now I don't think you love St Kilda.
ROSS LYON: I'd start laughing (laughing) . . . what a ridiculous premise.
Why didn't you say something on Footy Classified on the night (when Caroline Wilson suggested it) and not two days later at a press conference?
It took me by surprise. In your wildest dreams you couldn't prepare for that media interaction, but at the end of the day I thought it was baseless, inaccurate, disappointing and offensive.
But I don't want to give her any more mileage. So that's where it sits. I thought you might have your own topics, to be honest.
Just wanted to ask . . . why do you think people would doubt your commitment to the Saints?
I think it's ridiculous and I don't know about people, it's Caroline Wilson. Does she represent the view of the populace? I don't think she does.
Eighteen months is enough time to show your commitment, do you think?
I moved down as soon as I got the job, about October 14, it was almost immediate. I shifted my family down, it was pretty hectic, had to find a lot of assistant coaches.
There's been a lot of transition, we've put a lot of great foundation in, some great phys-edders in Peter Mulkearns and David Misson, we've re-mapped a lot of the support staff.
Do you have plans to do more over the next pre-season?
We are always in a state of continuous improvement, and not just spend, but look at cuts in areas and re-allocate. Sometimes it's a case of re-organise and not spend, spend, spend.
To see Lukey Ball running around, it's a product of his hard work but also a product of excellent management, and it started in the middle of last year.
Then you've got Matthew Ferguson, who had 13 hamstrings. Since Peter Mulkearns took him over last year, one on one, he hasn't had one, so physically we're starting to get where we really want to be, which is pleasing, and we've also played 37 players this year.
We've played everyone on the list bar two, I think. There's only Eljay Connors, he's done a shoulder, and Jack Stevens is a chance to play this year.
Can we backtrack? Why doesn't the public see in you the pain of defeat or the joy of victory, or is that just not you?
Again, I think that's a generalisation. I think it's easy to label me that.
Maybe the cameras aren't on you when you are emotionally active.
I think they pan on me a fair bit and I'm far from ice cold in the box, you see plenty of emotion.
That's game day, that's two hours, you see plenty of emotion. I'm very passionate about my footy, I live and breathe it.
What do you want me to do - start crying in interviews? I look around at the other coaches and I wouldn't say I was any less or more (emotional), I see plenty of control out of all of the others.
Look, we are the face and leaders of the club and despair doesn't do it, does it?
Enthusiasm does it, and selling hope to your supporters, and being vibrant and leading under pressure. I don't think I'm going to do anyone any favours being an emotional wreck.
Then why do people say you are unemotional?
That's ridiculous.
Supporters say . . .
Can I answer your question . . . Look, obviously I got a lot of feedback after that (Footy Classified).
They enjoyed that I stood up and I'm always going to do that. Probably in hindsight I could've been stronger.
But coming into the job, and it's my opinion, maybe get some success first before you buy into every issue.
I'm not intimidated, but I'm really respectful of (Mick) Malthouse and (Leigh) Matthews, and if you achieve something, you can start buying into all the issues.
I didn't want to be the oracle so when I was asked at press conferences about issues that didn't concern St Kilda, I didn't want to buy into them.
That's been misconstrued. I tried to be respectful and earn my stripes, so to speak. If it involved St Kilda, I would be strong and stand up. That got interpreted that he's got nothing to say, that he's unemotional.
Saints fans ring talkback and say: 'When Ross Lyon talks, I don't know if he's talking to us fans', that he is still remote to the supporters.
That's interpretation. But I have taken it on board. You've seen the true me. I got hit up early (in my coaching career) and I shut down a little bit, but I cut through that and since then I've got a lot of positive feedback from the media. You can make your own observations, I think I'm considered.
Last year, in an interview, you said something like: 'I'm here for three years, if it doesn't work out, I'll move on'. Has your desire to succeed at St Kilda grown since then?
It's easier for me to buy into a club and it's culture because I'm not constrained by the past. Fitzroy doesn't exist, so I'm not a Fitzroy person, so it's easier for me to immerse and enjoy where I'm at.
To be frank, I've never been more embraced anywhere I've been. There are great people here.
From day one, I mean Jack Barker (father of Trevor), Allan Jeans, you're talking the legend of the club who supports me and has cups of tea with me, and Jack Barker, I go visit him in hospital.
I didn't know Jack Barker before I came here, but I'm going to visit him in the cancer ward because he's a great St Kilda person.
So, I want St Kilda. I am fierce in my determination to see St Kilda succeed.
Of all the letters you get, what is the common or overwhelming theme?
Play youth. We've seen a lot of change from '04 to now and we'd really like to see you drive the youth. That's the been over-riding message.
And you've taken it on board?
To a degree. Well, against Fremantle we had nine players under 20 and three debutants, and even against North Melbourne we had three players under 10 games.
Everyone is saying the youth card with other clubs, but, gee whiz, Armitage, Allen, Eddy, Gwilt, McQualter, Jones - so in that context the last two wins have been very pleasing.
You're 7-7 and in eighth spot. What does this club have to do to ensure its best is yet to come?
We're still building and we feel that, personnel and form-wise. We've been inconsistent, but our effort the last two games is unquestioned.
Which is inconsistent? Skill or effort?
It's a combination. People like to label one thing if you win or lose. People say something if you kick eight goals.
I watched the Collingwood-Bulldogs (game), two very attacking teams, and what was it at halftime, five goals to four?
That was an enthralling one-on-one game, so just because it's low scoring, it doesn't mean you've got numbers back. Sometimes it can just be one-on-one and competing. Look, we've got a lot of things to work on.
This might be a ridiculous question but, and I know you want to, but can St Kilda win the premiership this year?
You can't talk about finals and winning them until you are in them, so let's add up our wins and losses at the end of the year and see where we are at. If we are in the finals, then ask me the question.
Are you confident you are good enough to play finals?
Clearly we think we are good enough to play finals. At 7-7, I didn't walk in here to talk whether we could win the premiership or not.
Maybe, but trying to find out whether, in your eyes, the Saints are under-performing, or they are around where you think they should be, or good enough to finish fifth, six or so and be a strong challenger at the end of the year.
That wasn't your question, was it? (laughing)
In the ball park, though.
Our aim is to play good football and keep improving. Clearly we need to attack a bit better, defend a bit better, start to win more contested ball.
Everyone focuses on our second halves, but Carrara . . . it was Subiaco, that's what shocked us, how big it was. It is 171m, but in the book it said 160m, and we got lost in the spaces early.
And to run out that game strongly against quality opposition desperate to win was pleasing.
One of your best wins to come from five goals down?
Twice. We pulled it from 31 to nine, then it got back out to 24 during the third quarter.
Aggressive coaching as well. Take Sam Fisher, a mainstay at the back, but you used him through the midfield.
He's been in the midfield for a couple of games, the last quarter against Sydney, Fremantle.
But the point is since we've decided, hang on, let's change a few things, we've become a real flexible team with the numbers through the midfield, Goddard, Sam Fisher, Gram, and all of a sudden it took pressure off Dal Santo and Montagna, Ball, and we'll have Hayes this week.
Why did you say after the North Melbourne game? 'I take full responsibility for the first quarter'. What mistake did you make?
We got lost in the spaces. A couple of us spoke to Michael Voss before the game, not directly, but he said it's a dangerous ground to be sucked into the wide spaces, so be careful.
And we got sucked into that. We knew at quarter-time what had to be fixed.
Nick Riewoldt spoke to the players on the field after the North game for several minutes. Do you know the gist of what he said?
I didn't know that.
So you haven't spoken to him about that?
We have a close working relationship, complete trust and he's a wonderful leader, him and Lenny Hayes have been outstanding.
I'd imagine he would've said, 'This is good, but let's keep a lid on it and keep doing the work that allows us to play like this'.
It was really good timing. We had a barbecue the next day, the whole list and staff, at Riewoldt's parents' place for four or five hours.
And no one went out on the Saturday night, we just sat around the hotel and had a couple of quiet beers.
Sounds buoyant.
It really pulled us together. We've been under pressure, but everyone's under pressure, and Nick drove that, and Lenny was there and Fraser was there.
It was a pity we didn't have everyone there. I know a few of our senior players - Michael Gardiner, and (Adam) Schneider - said they would've loved to have been there.
And Riewoldts on Sunday.
We had four or five hours. We watched the Melbourne-Brisbane result and that opens it up a little bit. It was a great weekend.
About three weeks ago, I heard Riewoldt say in the media, words to the effect of, 'Ross is our coach, and we are right behind him, leave him him alone, that we are in this together'.
I thought it might've been the first time he has publicly come out and aggressively defended the coach. Can you describe the evolution of your relationship with Nick Riewoldt?
Any relationship takes time to build trust and trust is fundamental in any functioning human relationship, but Nick embraced me from the moment I walked into the door, as the playing group did.
Probably early, often it's your own insecurities and walking into a unique situation, but any concerns were manufactured.
How often do you and the captain talk one-on-one? Every day?
You don't have to talk every day, it's not about that. When you need to talk, you come in. He's an extension, he and Lenny are an extension of me.
How much say did they have with the axing of Dal Santo and Milne?
I'm the coach and I make the decisions, I talk to them more about the guidelines.
To answer your first question, we obviously talk two to three times a week, might have the occasional breakfast, the leaders might have a dinner together. I might talk to him on the phone.
But I take a genuine care and interest in all the players.
Who is more responsible for the performance, the coach or the players?
It's stops with me. Where we're at performance-wise clearly stops with the head coach. Obviously it's a combination, but ultimately me.
Surely the players have to take responsibility, Ross, because they are the ones running on to the ground.
To a point.
At least once this year you have said the players aren't doing what we're coaching them to do.
It was Port Power, the first quarter, and again we over-used the ball a bit, and after quarter-time the scoring was dead level.
But, gee, I read Neil Craig the other day and he said how 'we wanted to play and attack against Brisbane (in Round 13), they held us we played slow footy and that's not what we've been training, that's not what we wanted, but we'll change our training so under pressure we don't revert to type' -- that's what he said.
So I'm not the only league coach that sometimes has plans that don't get carried out.
It's not because the players don't want to, or we haven't trained for it, but you have to recognise the opposition can put so much heat on you, you start using the ball in a certain way, you start defending in a certain way.
The art form is getting what you want done regardless of the what the opposition throws at you.
There's three or four teams getting that right more often and the rest of us are trying to strike that equilibrium.
We get called spiritless, disconnected, but we're 7-7 and one win or two wins off teams who are premiership chances.
Expectation rides shotgun with this team, whatever that means.
I know what it means, I'm not sure who creates it.
I don't know where it comes from.
I do.
You'll say the media, but what about the supporters?
Everyone's got expectation. I've got expectation, the players have, every footy club has.
It seems to haunt St Kilda.
Does it? I don't know that.
LYON ON THE KINDER SAINTS
MARK ROBINSON: David Armitage, why doesn’t he play every week?
ROSS LYON: He’s a second-year player and I don’t give games. I mean, one minute we’ve got the best list in the competition and the next minute it’s, ‘why are you playing second-year players every week?’ You can’t have your cake and eat it too. But he’s created an opportunity, he’s started to work hard and he’s second year into what is a four-year apprenticeship. He’s a bit similar to Ball and Hayes, an inside midfielder, and there’s only so many you can have. We’re trying to develop flexibility into him so he can play in other positions.
Clinton Jones?
Very driven, exceptional pace, speed and endurance, obviously his disposal (is an issue) but he’s been working on that. The last few weeks he’s had it 22 times.
James Gwilt?
He’s taken a step. He’s starting to make decisions and compete in the manner that we want. He’s a real good athlete, six-foot-three (188cm), got speed, endurance. He’s far from cementing a spot, but he’s played some good roles. Last year he played on Barry Hall, he played on Fevola, and full-backs are very hard to find and one day we have to replace Max Hudghton. It’s a critical year for him but he’s only young, he’s only 22.
Robert Eddy?
He’s an All Australian under-18, very strong character, incredibly hard worker, top-three athletes at the club, speed, endurance. He has a very strong work ethic.
Jarryn Geary?
He missed playing in the under-18 championships. He’s in the top five for speed and endurance at the club, he’s a quality kid. He played in the NAB Cup, he’s played just eight games, and he had 20 possessions against Sydney and Carlton, but needs to build his body a bit more. He will be a good player.
Brad Howard?
Was a second round player out of Queensland, he’s progressed and we are confident he will get there in the end.
Jarryd Allen?
He’s playing his third game this week. He’s a tall forward, maybe a key back. He’s really hard working and he took a couple of contested marks against North. He had a big contest against three North players on a wing which was pleasing.
Andrew McQualter?
He’s a first-round draft pick, he’s had four years. We delisted him and then we took him back and he’s worked his arse off. He worked very hard on Boomer Harvey in the second half last match.
Ben McEvoy?
We are going to give him more games this year. With Kosi coming back, we’ve been justified by that (dropping him) because Kosi probably played his best game for the season. He’s going to take time, but he’s a ruckman that can play forward. He took the most contested marks in the under-18s and we think he has a big future.
Jack Steven?
He’s one with real talent. He’s quick, still doing VCE and was one of the best for the Geelong Falcons last year. We hope to see him play seniors before the season is out.
YOU won't see the veins popping out of Ross Lyon's neck, but that doesn't mean he has any less emotion than other AFL coaches.
MARK ROBINSON: What if I said to you right now I don't think you love St Kilda.
ROSS LYON: I'd start laughing (laughing) . . . what a ridiculous premise.
Why didn't you say something on Footy Classified on the night (when Caroline Wilson suggested it) and not two days later at a press conference?
It took me by surprise. In your wildest dreams you couldn't prepare for that media interaction, but at the end of the day I thought it was baseless, inaccurate, disappointing and offensive.
But I don't want to give her any more mileage. So that's where it sits. I thought you might have your own topics, to be honest.
Just wanted to ask . . . why do you think people would doubt your commitment to the Saints?
I think it's ridiculous and I don't know about people, it's Caroline Wilson. Does she represent the view of the populace? I don't think she does.
Eighteen months is enough time to show your commitment, do you think?
I moved down as soon as I got the job, about October 14, it was almost immediate. I shifted my family down, it was pretty hectic, had to find a lot of assistant coaches.
There's been a lot of transition, we've put a lot of great foundation in, some great phys-edders in Peter Mulkearns and David Misson, we've re-mapped a lot of the support staff.
Do you have plans to do more over the next pre-season?
We are always in a state of continuous improvement, and not just spend, but look at cuts in areas and re-allocate. Sometimes it's a case of re-organise and not spend, spend, spend.
To see Lukey Ball running around, it's a product of his hard work but also a product of excellent management, and it started in the middle of last year.
Then you've got Matthew Ferguson, who had 13 hamstrings. Since Peter Mulkearns took him over last year, one on one, he hasn't had one, so physically we're starting to get where we really want to be, which is pleasing, and we've also played 37 players this year.
We've played everyone on the list bar two, I think. There's only Eljay Connors, he's done a shoulder, and Jack Stevens is a chance to play this year.
Can we backtrack? Why doesn't the public see in you the pain of defeat or the joy of victory, or is that just not you?
Again, I think that's a generalisation. I think it's easy to label me that.
Maybe the cameras aren't on you when you are emotionally active.
I think they pan on me a fair bit and I'm far from ice cold in the box, you see plenty of emotion.
That's game day, that's two hours, you see plenty of emotion. I'm very passionate about my footy, I live and breathe it.
What do you want me to do - start crying in interviews? I look around at the other coaches and I wouldn't say I was any less or more (emotional), I see plenty of control out of all of the others.
Look, we are the face and leaders of the club and despair doesn't do it, does it?
Enthusiasm does it, and selling hope to your supporters, and being vibrant and leading under pressure. I don't think I'm going to do anyone any favours being an emotional wreck.
Then why do people say you are unemotional?
That's ridiculous.
Supporters say . . .
Can I answer your question . . . Look, obviously I got a lot of feedback after that (Footy Classified).
They enjoyed that I stood up and I'm always going to do that. Probably in hindsight I could've been stronger.
But coming into the job, and it's my opinion, maybe get some success first before you buy into every issue.
I'm not intimidated, but I'm really respectful of (Mick) Malthouse and (Leigh) Matthews, and if you achieve something, you can start buying into all the issues.
I didn't want to be the oracle so when I was asked at press conferences about issues that didn't concern St Kilda, I didn't want to buy into them.
That's been misconstrued. I tried to be respectful and earn my stripes, so to speak. If it involved St Kilda, I would be strong and stand up. That got interpreted that he's got nothing to say, that he's unemotional.
Saints fans ring talkback and say: 'When Ross Lyon talks, I don't know if he's talking to us fans', that he is still remote to the supporters.
That's interpretation. But I have taken it on board. You've seen the true me. I got hit up early (in my coaching career) and I shut down a little bit, but I cut through that and since then I've got a lot of positive feedback from the media. You can make your own observations, I think I'm considered.
Last year, in an interview, you said something like: 'I'm here for three years, if it doesn't work out, I'll move on'. Has your desire to succeed at St Kilda grown since then?
It's easier for me to buy into a club and it's culture because I'm not constrained by the past. Fitzroy doesn't exist, so I'm not a Fitzroy person, so it's easier for me to immerse and enjoy where I'm at.
To be frank, I've never been more embraced anywhere I've been. There are great people here.
From day one, I mean Jack Barker (father of Trevor), Allan Jeans, you're talking the legend of the club who supports me and has cups of tea with me, and Jack Barker, I go visit him in hospital.
I didn't know Jack Barker before I came here, but I'm going to visit him in the cancer ward because he's a great St Kilda person.
So, I want St Kilda. I am fierce in my determination to see St Kilda succeed.
Of all the letters you get, what is the common or overwhelming theme?
Play youth. We've seen a lot of change from '04 to now and we'd really like to see you drive the youth. That's the been over-riding message.
And you've taken it on board?
To a degree. Well, against Fremantle we had nine players under 20 and three debutants, and even against North Melbourne we had three players under 10 games.
Everyone is saying the youth card with other clubs, but, gee whiz, Armitage, Allen, Eddy, Gwilt, McQualter, Jones - so in that context the last two wins have been very pleasing.
You're 7-7 and in eighth spot. What does this club have to do to ensure its best is yet to come?
We're still building and we feel that, personnel and form-wise. We've been inconsistent, but our effort the last two games is unquestioned.
Which is inconsistent? Skill or effort?
It's a combination. People like to label one thing if you win or lose. People say something if you kick eight goals.
I watched the Collingwood-Bulldogs (game), two very attacking teams, and what was it at halftime, five goals to four?
That was an enthralling one-on-one game, so just because it's low scoring, it doesn't mean you've got numbers back. Sometimes it can just be one-on-one and competing. Look, we've got a lot of things to work on.
This might be a ridiculous question but, and I know you want to, but can St Kilda win the premiership this year?
You can't talk about finals and winning them until you are in them, so let's add up our wins and losses at the end of the year and see where we are at. If we are in the finals, then ask me the question.
Are you confident you are good enough to play finals?
Clearly we think we are good enough to play finals. At 7-7, I didn't walk in here to talk whether we could win the premiership or not.
Maybe, but trying to find out whether, in your eyes, the Saints are under-performing, or they are around where you think they should be, or good enough to finish fifth, six or so and be a strong challenger at the end of the year.
That wasn't your question, was it? (laughing)
In the ball park, though.
Our aim is to play good football and keep improving. Clearly we need to attack a bit better, defend a bit better, start to win more contested ball.
Everyone focuses on our second halves, but Carrara . . . it was Subiaco, that's what shocked us, how big it was. It is 171m, but in the book it said 160m, and we got lost in the spaces early.
And to run out that game strongly against quality opposition desperate to win was pleasing.
One of your best wins to come from five goals down?
Twice. We pulled it from 31 to nine, then it got back out to 24 during the third quarter.
Aggressive coaching as well. Take Sam Fisher, a mainstay at the back, but you used him through the midfield.
He's been in the midfield for a couple of games, the last quarter against Sydney, Fremantle.
But the point is since we've decided, hang on, let's change a few things, we've become a real flexible team with the numbers through the midfield, Goddard, Sam Fisher, Gram, and all of a sudden it took pressure off Dal Santo and Montagna, Ball, and we'll have Hayes this week.
Why did you say after the North Melbourne game? 'I take full responsibility for the first quarter'. What mistake did you make?
We got lost in the spaces. A couple of us spoke to Michael Voss before the game, not directly, but he said it's a dangerous ground to be sucked into the wide spaces, so be careful.
And we got sucked into that. We knew at quarter-time what had to be fixed.
Nick Riewoldt spoke to the players on the field after the North game for several minutes. Do you know the gist of what he said?
I didn't know that.
So you haven't spoken to him about that?
We have a close working relationship, complete trust and he's a wonderful leader, him and Lenny Hayes have been outstanding.
I'd imagine he would've said, 'This is good, but let's keep a lid on it and keep doing the work that allows us to play like this'.
It was really good timing. We had a barbecue the next day, the whole list and staff, at Riewoldt's parents' place for four or five hours.
And no one went out on the Saturday night, we just sat around the hotel and had a couple of quiet beers.
Sounds buoyant.
It really pulled us together. We've been under pressure, but everyone's under pressure, and Nick drove that, and Lenny was there and Fraser was there.
It was a pity we didn't have everyone there. I know a few of our senior players - Michael Gardiner, and (Adam) Schneider - said they would've loved to have been there.
And Riewoldts on Sunday.
We had four or five hours. We watched the Melbourne-Brisbane result and that opens it up a little bit. It was a great weekend.
About three weeks ago, I heard Riewoldt say in the media, words to the effect of, 'Ross is our coach, and we are right behind him, leave him him alone, that we are in this together'.
I thought it might've been the first time he has publicly come out and aggressively defended the coach. Can you describe the evolution of your relationship with Nick Riewoldt?
Any relationship takes time to build trust and trust is fundamental in any functioning human relationship, but Nick embraced me from the moment I walked into the door, as the playing group did.
Probably early, often it's your own insecurities and walking into a unique situation, but any concerns were manufactured.
How often do you and the captain talk one-on-one? Every day?
You don't have to talk every day, it's not about that. When you need to talk, you come in. He's an extension, he and Lenny are an extension of me.
How much say did they have with the axing of Dal Santo and Milne?
I'm the coach and I make the decisions, I talk to them more about the guidelines.
To answer your first question, we obviously talk two to three times a week, might have the occasional breakfast, the leaders might have a dinner together. I might talk to him on the phone.
But I take a genuine care and interest in all the players.
Who is more responsible for the performance, the coach or the players?
It's stops with me. Where we're at performance-wise clearly stops with the head coach. Obviously it's a combination, but ultimately me.
Surely the players have to take responsibility, Ross, because they are the ones running on to the ground.
To a point.
At least once this year you have said the players aren't doing what we're coaching them to do.
It was Port Power, the first quarter, and again we over-used the ball a bit, and after quarter-time the scoring was dead level.
But, gee, I read Neil Craig the other day and he said how 'we wanted to play and attack against Brisbane (in Round 13), they held us we played slow footy and that's not what we've been training, that's not what we wanted, but we'll change our training so under pressure we don't revert to type' -- that's what he said.
So I'm not the only league coach that sometimes has plans that don't get carried out.
It's not because the players don't want to, or we haven't trained for it, but you have to recognise the opposition can put so much heat on you, you start using the ball in a certain way, you start defending in a certain way.
The art form is getting what you want done regardless of the what the opposition throws at you.
There's three or four teams getting that right more often and the rest of us are trying to strike that equilibrium.
We get called spiritless, disconnected, but we're 7-7 and one win or two wins off teams who are premiership chances.
Expectation rides shotgun with this team, whatever that means.
I know what it means, I'm not sure who creates it.
I don't know where it comes from.
I do.
You'll say the media, but what about the supporters?
Everyone's got expectation. I've got expectation, the players have, every footy club has.
It seems to haunt St Kilda.
Does it? I don't know that.
LYON ON THE KINDER SAINTS
MARK ROBINSON: David Armitage, why doesn’t he play every week?
ROSS LYON: He’s a second-year player and I don’t give games. I mean, one minute we’ve got the best list in the competition and the next minute it’s, ‘why are you playing second-year players every week?’ You can’t have your cake and eat it too. But he’s created an opportunity, he’s started to work hard and he’s second year into what is a four-year apprenticeship. He’s a bit similar to Ball and Hayes, an inside midfielder, and there’s only so many you can have. We’re trying to develop flexibility into him so he can play in other positions.
Clinton Jones?
Very driven, exceptional pace, speed and endurance, obviously his disposal (is an issue) but he’s been working on that. The last few weeks he’s had it 22 times.
James Gwilt?
He’s taken a step. He’s starting to make decisions and compete in the manner that we want. He’s a real good athlete, six-foot-three (188cm), got speed, endurance. He’s far from cementing a spot, but he’s played some good roles. Last year he played on Barry Hall, he played on Fevola, and full-backs are very hard to find and one day we have to replace Max Hudghton. It’s a critical year for him but he’s only young, he’s only 22.
Robert Eddy?
He’s an All Australian under-18, very strong character, incredibly hard worker, top-three athletes at the club, speed, endurance. He has a very strong work ethic.
Jarryn Geary?
He missed playing in the under-18 championships. He’s in the top five for speed and endurance at the club, he’s a quality kid. He played in the NAB Cup, he’s played just eight games, and he had 20 possessions against Sydney and Carlton, but needs to build his body a bit more. He will be a good player.
Brad Howard?
Was a second round player out of Queensland, he’s progressed and we are confident he will get there in the end.
Jarryd Allen?
He’s playing his third game this week. He’s a tall forward, maybe a key back. He’s really hard working and he took a couple of contested marks against North. He had a big contest against three North players on a wing which was pleasing.
Andrew McQualter?
He’s a first-round draft pick, he’s had four years. We delisted him and then we took him back and he’s worked his arse off. He worked very hard on Boomer Harvey in the second half last match.
Ben McEvoy?
We are going to give him more games this year. With Kosi coming back, we’ve been justified by that (dropping him) because Kosi probably played his best game for the season. He’s going to take time, but he’s a ruckman that can play forward. He took the most contested marks in the under-18s and we think he has a big future.
Jack Steven?
He’s one with real talent. He’s quick, still doing VCE and was one of the best for the Geelong Falcons last year. We hope to see him play seniors before the season is out.
