Lyon in the sand
FOOTBALL is brutal. Like politics. Every couple of years there’s a review and you need to prove yourself or you’re out.
As any politician will tell you; don’t get caught by surprise. If you don’t have the results, you better have the trust of the people because nothing else is going to save you. If you take the time to build relationships and create an image as somebody who is prepared to work hard and empathise, then you’ve got a chance. But if you stay inside the bubble and avoid the people who are employing you; put your hand up and call time. You’re on the way out and there’s no point blaming others if you have missed the warning signs along the way. Punching down for your own failure is not leadership. That is blame and it’s unsustainable. This week PM Morrison came home from his “Pacific family” squabble about climate crisis and gave a speech proclaiming that the public service needs to pull themselves up by the bootstraps. It was a big pivot for the domestic discussion . Nothing like putting the public servants on show trial to appease the public.
He used an analogy that his old football coach used to share. It was something about bacon and eggs. The point being that the chicken was part of the process, but the pig “was committed”.
I get the image, but in the words of Ross Lyon, the analogy is “not ideal”.
The PM was punching down and seemed to forget that politicians are also servants of the people and (in fact) they are the temporary employees while the public service is a permanent infrastructure.
When the minister loses a portfolio, the department will still be there. Just like when a bad CEO is ditched, the organisation continues.
The “culture” of the place is the responsibility of leadership. It flows downhill and is a public reflection of the executive team.
This week the Fremantle football club demonstrated they have a strong understanding of what they want their future culture to look like. They’re voting for change.
They have been playing defensive football for years — losing members and losing games — and this week they finally took a positive step and they cut the coach and the CEO in the one press conference.
For those inside “the industry” it is a shock. But for outsiders, this removal was a long time coming.
The CEO and coach are the brand of the modern club. They set the cultural attitude.
They lead players, employees and supporters and this is why the most successful coaches in the modern era have been loved by the marketing teams at footy clubs.
Malcolm Blight, Al Clarkson, Damian Hardwick, Bomber Thompson, Chris Fagan and Chris Scott. These coaches have blended coaching smarts with media skills.
They have been able to demonstrate humour in adversity. They punch up for their players and defend them in media storms. They are good brand ambassadors and match day intellects.
Ross Lyon is an industry insider football person. He’s never been the sort of coach that sells memberships. He’s the kind the “players love”. But that’s not enough in 2019. You need to know that the world is watching.
Football is a competitive marketplace. Why buy a Dockers membership when you can go next door and support the West Coast Eagles? Two completely different brands. One dour and industry insider and one exciting and full of dash and media smarts.
Lyon is “old school”. Argumentative with the press and he has no premierships to his name. His winloss ratio is rapidly sliding and his best players are exiting to other teams. So where’s the upside? What’s to believe in?
The board had no choice but to act. They decided to stem the bleeding by cutting off the body from the arms. It’s a bold move and it opens up the path to genuine cultural change.
Good leaders know when it’s time to go. Great leaders thank the organisation for the opportunity as they move forward to greater challenges in life. Ross Mueller is a freelance writer and director.