Lyon’s key weapon to counter critics
Ross Lyon’s toughest critics paint him as a power hungry Bill Belichick-style figure who rules with an iron fist.
For all his successes, they point to his inability to build a premiership list while worrying about an overly defensive game plan.
In a month where six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Belichick lost his power struggle with owner Robert Kraft, Lyon came out on top as St Kilda moved on CEO Simon Lethlean.
At St Kilda the buck now very firmly stops with Lyon and his hand-chosen band of lieutenants and confidantes as Belichick finds himself without a 2024 job.
And yet if Belichick was sacked in part over an abysmal drafting record this past decade, Lyon was a figure of tranquillity at Moorabbin at Monday’s 90-minute training session.
In part those good vibes can be put down to excellent availability, with only Dan Butler (ankle), Paddy Dow (knee) and Jack Hayes (knee) still in the rehab group of his best 25.
Max King is in full training and Tim Membrey is sound of body and mind after an impressive summer, even if Ben Paton left training favouring his shoulder after a tackling drill gone wrong.
But Lyon’s secret weapon for the critics with their loaded guns was on show across the impressive Moorabbin surface.
As one senior Saints leader said: “We are building through the kids”.
On Friday the club’s No. 28 draft pick Lance Collard added his name to the queue with an electric second quarter including a four-bounce run from defence and a huge nearly-there spekky attempt.
On Monday the clinical left foot of No. 50 draft pick Hugo Garcia was on show as he broke lines with daring kicks.