After handing West Coast an almighty roasting final week, former Melbourne participant Garry Lyon has sung the Eagles’ praises for taking a bolder method of their spherical two win and lauded a rookie for epitomising the change.
Lyon labelled them the “Rest Coast Eagles” after a lacklustre and bitterly disappointing defeat to North Melbourne in spherical one at Marvel Stadium, saying the “only thing they are good at is losing”.
The defeat was their ninth in a row and picked up off the horror type of 2022’s two-win marketing campaign.
However, the membership responded in a giant strategy to snap the streak towards Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
They carried out a fast-paced, move-the-ball-forward method that had the forwards salivating and feasting, kicking 14 objectives within the 15-point victory.
“West Coast Eagles welcome to the party,” Lyon stated on On the Couch.
“They played the sort of footy the modern game demands.”
Lyon highlighted a second throughout West Coast’s dominant second time period at a contest on the outer wing that bolstered the change in mindset.
“I love this bit with Noah Long; I think it sums it up,” he stated.
“Sheed’s demanding the footy; he says, ‘give it back because we go back here’.
“He looked at him and said, ‘that hasn’t worked for us, so I’m going forward’.
“And Jamie Cripps is saying ‘go forward quickly,’ and he marks it.
“You can debate that any way you want, but I like that he said no.”
West Coast registered their greatest kick-forward share since 2021, greatest metres gained by handball since 2017, greatest ball motion since 2019 and largest ground-ball distinction since 2017.
Nathan Buckley additionally pointed to Jamaine Jones’ unbelievable effort of 27 disposals and 776 meters gained.
“Jamaine Jones played the game of his life, and he was fed,” he stated.
“He was told you run at all costs, and we’re just going to give the ball to you, and then we will play the game from there.”
Lyon then turned the warmth onto Fremantle forward of a mouth-watering Western Derby this week.
The Dockers have appeared uninspired in two shock losses to St Kilda and North Melbourne to start the season, with Lyon stating Justin Longmuir has been out-coached.
“Does Justin Longmuir look at this and say he’s been out-coached by two masters in Ross Lyon and Alastair Clarkson and go to his boys? Let’s get moving,” he stated.
“If you go to the Fremantle forwards and ask what do you want? They want fast ball movement.
“This derby is going to be unbelievable.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
