St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says West Coast’s humiliating week within the press will make sure the Eagles produce a fierce response of their AFL conflict.
West Coast have been thrust into the AFL highlight final Saturday after struggling an embarrassing 171-point loss to Sydney – the equal-fourth largest defeat in VFL/AFL historical past.
It additionally prolonged West Coast’s dropping streak to 12 matches, with every of these defeats being by a minimum of 40 factors – a file.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson is underneath stress to maintain his job, with the membership standing by him regardless of the poor run of outcomes.
Lyon empathised with West Coast’s plight, reflecting on the time he led Fremantle to a 133-point loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium in spherical 22, 2018.
Fremantle launched into every week of soul looking out after that defeat and nearly toppled eventual grand finalists Collingwood of their subsequent recreation.
Lyon expects West Coast to be equally fired up after they tackle the Saints at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
“I’ve been through that on the other side of the ledger,” Lyon informed reporters on Friday.
“When I was coaching the Dockers, we went down to Geelong and they kicked 23 goals in a row.
“I am unable to bear in mind what yr it was, I feel I wiped it from the reminiscence.
“The next game we played Collingwood … we took them to (nine) points.
“We acquired humiliated within the press (after that loss to Geelong), as West Coast have been (this week).
“My leaders responded at the time. We understand it’s going to be pretty fierce.”
The conflict will mark Lyon’s first recreation teaching again in Perth since being sacked by Fremantle in the direction of the tip of 2019.
But the 56-year-old is extra targeted on making certain the fifth-placed Saints (8-6) rediscover their mojo.
St Kilda received six of their first eight video games this yr however have since slumped to 4 defeats from their previous six video games.
Lyon feels his workforce have misplaced its identification in latest weeks, highlighted by their two-goal first half in final week’s 28-point loss to Brisbane.
“We were really disappointed in our first-half performance,” Lyon stated.
“The big picture is we just feel we’ve lost a little bit of how we were playing in the first eight rounds.
“The final 4 or 5 weeks we have fallen away in some areas.
“I feel we’ve lost our identity a bit – our outnumber game, our aggressive defence, and our braveness with the ball.
“We’re seeking to get that again and it begins this week with West Coast.”
West Coast have been boosted by the returns of Jamie Cripps (ankle) and Shannon Hurn (hamstring), but Elliot Yeo will miss three to four weeks with a hip issue.
The Saints might be boosted by the return of Seb Ross.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
