Ross Lyon has heeded outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan’s “sage advice” as he seeks to construct St Kilda again into an AFL premiership contender.
The Saints’ spectacular first season in Lyon’s second stint as a coach got here to an finish with a 24-point elimination closing defeat to GWS on Saturday.
There was no fairytale end to the marketing campaign, however St Kilda fan McLachlan wouldn’t have designed it that approach.
The league chief govt’s message to Lyon, because the Saints coach tells it, was easy: “Don’t try and build it in 12 months, build it over the longer term.”
And it has struck a chord with the 56-year-old.
“I feel like that’s been the approach, not burning anyone out and just getting there the right way,” Lyon mentioned after the 15.11 (101) to 11.11 (77) defeat to the Giants.
“We’ve just got to continue to do that on the back of this.
“I do not suppose we disgraced ourselves however we’d’ve appreciated to have been our greatest Saints that we have been at instances this 12 months.
“We really want to just lean in and support the environment and build it out and do it the right way.
“Gillon, who’s helped construct the AFL to what it’s, I feel it is fairly good sage recommendation for a coach at St Kilda like me.”
Lyon backed in his inexperienced players to deliver this season as injuries to senior stars opened selection doors.
He was rewarded, with Mattaes Phillipou, Anthony Caminiti, Mitch Owens, Marcus Windhager, Nasaiah Wanganeen-Milera and Cooper Sharman, among others, all showing plenty of positive signs as the Saints marched into the top-eight.
In doing so, they earned a first home final in Melbourne since the last year of Lyon’s first stint in charge, back in 2011.
“We’ve invested rather a lot sooner or later, we get a short-term sugar-hit,” Lyon mentioned.
“I’m not too excited as a result of as a coach I’ve been to larger, larger video games than this (elimination closing).
“We would’ve liked to have performed better but it’s a great audit, finals.”
While bullish in regards to the future, Lyon mentioned there is no such thing as a assure of additional development.
He famous reigning premiers Geelong missed the finals this season and runners-up Sydney have been knocked out in week one.
“That’s how brutal the competition is … so we’re going to have to keep improving,” Lyon mentioned.
“But I think we should get some natural improvement out of our first and second-year players.”
Lyon mentioned St Kilda will search to enhance their record via commerce and free company avenues over the low season.
The Saints have already been closely linked to Fremantle wingman Liam Henry.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
