The expression "career coach" has come into vogue recently and if that is how Ross Lyon likes to describe himself and he has an "out" clause in his contract, then he should be looking long and hard at a change of scenery for 2012 and beyond. And St. Kilda should be thinking the same way too!

I've heard it said that the Saints are the 2011 equivalent of the Hawks from last year but I don't see them coming back next year the way Hawthorn did this year.

My view is that the Saints window slammed shut when the ball failed to bounce up into Stevie Milne's hands in the first grand final last year. Having witnessed the decline of Melbourne's great dynasty of the 50s and 60s, I can tell you that when the ending comes, it comes so fast. 

The problem with St. Kilda has been it's lack of depth. Nothing changed in 2011 and with four retirements announced after last night's game and more changes to come, their outlook is grim.

So if Lyon is a "career coach" then a 5 year contract with the MFC sounds a lot better than a one year extension on his current one.

If Ross was getting frustrated at St Kilda, he's in for a rude awakening down at the Dees!

Not a massive fan of his game style or his wet blanket personality but if it makes the players better defensively then stuff it, I'd give him a go.

Until we improve our kicking, it doesn't really matter what style we play.

  On 10/09/2011 at 12:33, Real Demon said:

Sydney won the flag in 2005 kicking 8 goals..........in one of the best GF's of recent times!

Would you have a problem with the MFC winning a flag and only scoring 8 goals?

1964: Melbourne 8.16. 64 def Collingwood 8.12 60. No problem at all with that.

The most telling thing for me is how the assistants we have picked up have not coached again after failing with us.

Northey had been a senior coach at Sydney but was dumped for not being flamboyant enough for Geoffrey Edelsten's liking. After seven seasons with us (and five finals campaigns) Northey was gone but coached again (the Tigers?).

Then we picked up Balme (one finals campaign in four seasons), then Daniher who could not string two seasons together, and finally Bailey.

Balme had coached senior football in SA but not at our level and is now a football manager. Despite the media defending Daniher, and bagging us for dumping him after he stayed a couple of years too long, no-one's been knocking on his door and I suspect the same will happen with Bailey.

We either choose badly or we burn them so badly they don't get another gig.

I could hack Lyon and last night's result gives us as good a chance as we're going to get. Otherwise I'd be happy with Burns - someone who is going to give us some mongrel.

  On 10/09/2011 at 23:05, big_red_fire_engine said:

Disagree it was absolute boring rubbish and it cost him the game.

However I am open to him bringing some of this defensive focus to the Dee's as a different list at a different home ground doesn't necessarily mean a carbon copy game plan.

I think I've mentioned this before, but Ross Lyon has some of the crappiest defenders going around on his list.

The Saints' backline is extremely poor, Zac Dawson is his full back FFS! He won't know what do with himself given Frawley, Garland, Rivers plus Grimes, Blease, Tapscott, Strauss and so forth. It will absolutely allow him to change his game plan and style, especially at an open ground like the MCG.

I'd be beside myself with happiness if we managed to land him.

  On 11/09/2011 at 02:17, pitmaster said:

The most telling thing for me is how the assistants we have picked up have not coached again after failing with us.

Northey had been a senior coach at Sydney but was dumped for not being flamboyant enough for Geoffrey Edelsten's liking. After seven seasons with us (and five finals campaigns) Northey was gone but coached again (the Tigers?).

Then we picked up Balme (one finals campaign in four seasons), then Daniher who could not string two seasons together, and finally Bailey.

Balme had coached senior football in SA but not at our level and is now a football manager. Despite the media defending Daniher, and bagging us for dumping him after he stayed a couple of years too long, no-one's been knocking on his door and I suspect the same will happen with Bailey.

We either choose badly or we burn them so badly they don't get another gig.

I could hack Lyon and last night's result gives us as good a chance as we're going to get. Otherwise I'd be happy with Burns - someone who is going to give us some mongrel.

What percentage of coaches who don't win a flag get re hired. I can think of Eade and Wallace in recent times and that might be about it. It's not choosing badly or burning them, you just rarely get another gig if you don't win a flag. Eade was a reasonable success at the dogs, Wallace a massive fail. But back on your point Balme has gone on to tremendous success as football department manager at Collingwood and Geelong and Daniher seems to be doing a great job at West Coast. I'm surely someone will look at Bailey as well. He might not be a tactical genius or a genuine tough senior coach but he is a good operator with a level head and I think a reasonable teacher.

Oh and Ross Lyon has as much mongrel as Burns don't worry about that.

  On 11/09/2011 at 02:39, Jaded said:

I think I've mentioned this before, but Ross Lyon has some of the crappiest defenders going around on his list.

The Saints' backline is extremely poor, Zac Dawson is his full back FFS! He won't know what do with himself given Frawley, Garland, Rivers plus Grimes, Blease, Tapscott, Strauss and so forth. It will absolutely allow him to change his game plan and style, especially at an open ground like the MCG.

I'd be beside myself with happiness if we managed to land him.

I tend to agree with you Jaded. I would expect that there are certain elements that he would change due to the quality of our back six and the lack of contested ball strength of our current mids. However the general defence first focus that is his mantra would remain. and if that is the case I am all for it.

  On 11/09/2011 at 02:44, big_red_fire_engine said:

I tend to agree with you Jaded. I would expect that there are certain elements that he would change due to the quality of our back six and the lack of contested ball strength of our current mids. However the general defence first focus that is his mantar would remain. and if that is the case I am all for it.

Yeah I think we both agree that our team could really use this mantra of defence first. We are woeful when we don't have the ball, and this has to change.

Ross Lyon acknowledging that last night was an end of an era for the Saints, means that he is now ready to take on a club that is ready to climb again. I can't see why he'd stick around to try and rebuild the Saints, knowing how many coaches got given the arse from that club during a rebuilding phase.

  On 10/09/2011 at 10:37, pantaloons said:

If we signed Ross Lyon it'd be our greatest day since the 2000 Preliminary Final.

Agree,

I remember going to R1 2007 vs the Saints with high hopes after defeating them in the finals in 2006 - this was Ross Lyon's first game as coach. We were on top early but then something changed and we were strangulated by a superior system and hope drained away. Bring it on!

I wonder if the Lyon's have chewed the fat over anything in particular today?

Ross Lyon strikes me as the sort of bloke that can move on fairly quickly. Realistically, how long would it take for an announcement if he was to accept?

  On 11/09/2011 at 02:17, pitmaster said:

The most telling thing for me is how the assistants we have picked up have not coached again after failing with us.

Northey went onto coach at other clubs. Balme and ND have forged careers as capable heads of FD of ther clubs.

  On 11/09/2011 at 04:01, Rhino Richards said:

Northey went onto coach at other clubs. Balme and ND have forged careers as capable heads of FD of ther clubs.

Changing your avatar tomorrow, RR?

  On 10/09/2011 at 12:19, Clint Bizkit said:

I'm not so keen on Lyon, it took him a half of football to realise that in order to kick winning score you need to put your best players forward and leave them there.

That you be handy for you if we landed Lyon. You could cut and paste 80% of your 2011 posts in 2012

A guy on Twitter says his "connections" tell him Ross Lyon is Melbourne's next coach. It's official then..

On another note how many people have connections these days?? Seems like everyone knows someone that is connected with inside words ffs.

  On 10/09/2011 at 22:57, Rhino Richards said:

He has a get out clause if he gets the chance to bring a "winning culture" to an AFL Club. He might help the TV ratings MFC gets for its games when he speaks to the Richo at half time. On such a cold morning I am warming to this.

I believe the clause involves giving 3 months notice. Means we wouldn't have access to him til xmas if he moved.

FWIW, I reckon he'll stay at the saints. End of an era maybe, but, from afl.com.au:

"ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon believes the Saints' elimination final loss to the Sydney Swans could be the catalyst for a period of rebuilding at the club."

  On 11/09/2011 at 08:23, Mono said:

I believe the clause involves giving 3 months notice. Means we wouldn't have access to him til xmas if he moved.

FWIW, I reckon he'll stay at the saints. End of an era maybe, but, from afl.com.au:

"ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon believes the Saints' elimination final loss to the Sydney Swans could be the catalyst for a period of rebuilding at the club."

Yeah but that doesn't mean the rebuilding period will be under his guidance..

  On 11/09/2011 at 08:23, Mono said:

I believe the clause involves giving 3 months notice. Means we wouldn't have access to him til xmas if he moved.

So what happens between now and Xmas if he gives notice?

Does he turn up to work and take training along with with his replacement?

The actions of RL last night leave me a little perplexed.

Why would you say a 23 year old was retiring?

let alone make comments that players are to retire before they are told?

He dumpted Ball after the 2009 GF and he went on to be instrumental in the pies winning last year.

I am beginning to wonder about Mr. Lyon.

Is he as wonderful as he is portrayed?

Looks even worse than the way Jnr was flung last year

  On 10/09/2011 at 10:42, pantaloons said:

Yep. I actually love watching close, hard-fought, defensive sport. There's nothing wrong with a scoring feast once in a while, but there's nothing quite as emasculating and infuriating as the complete inability to stop your opponent from scoring.

Sounds like you're referring to another game where the crowd gets so bored they riot.

Me? I prefer Aussie Rules.

  On 11/09/2011 at 04:56, FC Melbourne said:

That you be handy for you if we landed Lyon. You could cut and paste 80% of your 2011 posts in 2012

That's because it's true.

See Geelong on Friday night. St Kilda got back into the game because they had their better forwards playing deeper, this was mentioned many times on the telecast last night.

  On 11/09/2011 at 09:16, Deez Nutz said:

Sounds like you're referring to another game where the crowd gets so bored they riot.

Me? I prefer Aussie Rules.

Yep!

  On 11/09/2011 at 08:36, MO FINE said:

So what happens between now and Xmas if he gives notice?

Does he turn up to work and take training along with with his replacement?

Not sure. The 3 month clause must have some purpose. You would have thought that if Lyon was to move on, he would have to give notice about June/July. I guess this would only happen if the saints were out of finals contention. He didn't and they weren't.

If he gives notice now, he would be out the door at the saints, but couldn't 'work' anywhere else til December.

Messy, unless of course the saints let him go.

  On 11/09/2011 at 09:08, old dee said:

The actions of RL last night leave me a little perplexed.

Why would you say a 23 year old was retiring?

let alone make comments that players are to retire before they are told?

He dumpted Ball after the 2009 GF and he went on to be instrumental in the pies winning last year.

I am beginning to wonder about Mr. Lyon.

Is he as wonderful as he is portrayed?

Looks even worse than the way Jnr was flung last year

No he's not.

He took over a list that was already playing deep into finals.

A side with stars, match winners, on field leaders.

Sure he almost got them ultimate success, but I reckon any coach that took over when he did would have done the same, or better.

His recruiting known players is horrific from where I sit, I don't like any of them.

He drove out Luke Ball for zilch. Granted the whole footy world had started to question Luke Ball, but the fact is he has been great at Collingwood in a role STKFC need.

He took over a mature, talented list and applied his tactics. I'm not sure he'd go as well taking over a team of light bodied kids. But what would I know.

without saying what i do for a job, i was told at work today that Lyon will be meeting with the club next week

sorry if this has already been mentioned

  On 11/09/2011 at 09:16, Deez Nutz said:

Sounds like you're referring to another game where the crowd gets so bored they riot.

Me? I prefer Aussie Rules.

Yep, the Aussie Rules we've played since 2007 has been really exciting.