St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has come below heavy fireplace with a veteran journalist highlighting the flaw that spells catastrophe for his aspect.
The Saints fell to Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Saturday to make it 5 losses over their previous six matches.
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Whereas they obtained the sting over Collingwood in spherical two, their solely different wins have come in opposition to Richmond and North Melbourne … the 2 groups positioned final on the ladder.
With solely three wins to their identify, the Saints have fallen to 14th on the ladder after ending the 2023 season in sixth with a 13-10 report.
The 17-point loss in opposition to the Dockers flattered the Saints as they had been utterly outplayed in entrance of their residence followers with criticism coming in thick and quick for Lyon following the defeat.
Veteran journalist Rohan Connolly didn’t maintain again any punches as he known as out Lyon and his teaching fashion that spells catastrophe for the Saints.
“This must be mentioned, I’ve obtained nothing in opposition to Ross however you merely can’t win a flag with out with the ability to rating and his groups consistantly don’t,” Connolly wrote on X.
“He’s had 13 accomplished seasons as a coach, in that point simply as soon as have his groups ranked any larger than seventh for factors scored whereas 9 instances his groups have been ranked high six for fewest factors conceded.”
Connolly identified that of the previous 24 Grand Last winners, solely twice has a staff ranked decrease than sixth for factors scored reigned supreme.
“You have got to have the ability to rating at the least respectively to be within the ball sport and Lyon’s sides nonetheless don’t,” he wrote.
“Final 12 months St Kilda (number one for fewest factors in opposition to) was a dismal fifteenth for factors scored. Even this season they’re okay defensively (sixth) however factors scored? A lowly 14th.
“You possibly can’t return this form of discrepancy between assault and defence over that lengthy a interval and be believed while you say you actually worth attacking soccer and scoring.
“He doesn’t. And the numbers merely don’t stack up. He has to alter.”
Hawthorn nice Ben Dixon took purpose at Lyon following the spherical 10 loss and questioned the coach’s skill to implement his message to the staff.
“They’re not getting ambushed, however good coaches don’t inform, they educate – and that’s the place I’m discovering it exhausting for the gamers that they’ve obtained,” Dixon mentioned.
“He can coach, however should you can’t educate the gamers to do it on the sector themselves … they’d be the questions I’m asking, do the gamers really perceive what they’re executing on the sector?”
“It’s a little bit of a expertise situation as properly, and he is aware of that – he simply recognized that in his press convention,” Western Bulldogs nice Brad Johnson added.
Johnson additionally added that the fashion of play adopted by the Saints most of 2024 merely isn’t sustainable to win most video games.
“Saints followers have to ask some questions round some scoring … you possibly can’t be happening on this competitors scoring 60 factors per sport” Johnson mentioned.
The Saints will tackle Melbourne subsequent week and will fall to 3-8 on a season they entered stuffed with hope following a finals run final 12 months.
Lyon coached St Kilda to Grand Last defeats in 2009 and 2010, got here up quick in 2013 at Fremantle and returned to the Saints when Brett Ratten was sacked on the finish of the 2022 season.
