Roast Ross Lyon: Man on the plank.

[Saint Watto]

2025

And 2026.

 

[Saint Watto]

Remember the Ratts mid-season re-appointment? I was livid. Shouldn't have happened. How did t happen?

Matt Finnis.

 

[Saint Watto]

My mail was Satan was against it.

Finnis pushed hard & got his way.

Prez wasn't quite ready to put his foot down.

You had a very good postman there W2L.

 

[SG34]

I don't think it was an amazing Coincidence that Enright was the only assistant to survive the "great purge of 2022"

In fact.....I'm tipping that he'll be sitting in "the big chair" when RTB finishes up.

The big chair?
At Kardinia Park?

 

[Saintbloke]

After last season I thought Lyon was the man to take us to finally break our drought. But I get the feeling he is not as loved by our current list as he was by the senior group back in 2009 etc. Perhaps his coaching style is not as well received in 2024

Coaches have their heyday, and Lyon's was back in his first tenure with us, and then Freo 10 years ago, and like the Blight appointment years back, it is a flawed strategy in bringing back retired guys in the hope they can recapture a thing of the past, but I guess Blight was a premiership coach and player, but the spark had gone, and his brain was on a golf course on the Gold Coast. The sooner Enright is in the top seat the better for us, though my Geelong mob tell me that the club is more than just keen to have him back in the fold.

 

[Remboy]

I don't think it was an amazing Coincidence that Enright was the only assistant to survive the "great purge of 2022"

In fact.....I'm tipping that he'll be sitting in "the big chair" when RTB finishes up.

I wouldn’t be surprised if, by the end of next season, they aren’t beginning to transition him into the top job (internally at least).

 

[ScrappyDo]

Coaches have their heyday, and Lyon's was back in his first tenure with us, and then Freo 10 years ago, and like the Blight appointment years back, it is a flawed strategy in bringing back retired guys in the hope they can recapture a thing of the past, but I guess Blight was a premiership coach and player, but the spark had gone, and his brain was on a golf course on the Gold Coast. The sooner Enright is in the top seat the better for us, though my Geelong mob tell me that the club is more than just keen to have him back in the fold.

I think Lyon is there primarily to fix a spineless team and footy dpt. The rest is suck it and see.

 

[SG34]

I think Lyon is there primarily to fix a spineless team and footy dpt. The rest is suck it and see.

This is what I thought, and I still think it is correct, but it does leave one philosophical problem. How did the mob have the balls to sack Ratts in the first place and engineer the heist?

 

[gringo2011]

I don't think it was an amazing Coincidence that Enright was the only assistant to survive the "great purge of 2022"

In fact.....I'm tipping that he'll be sitting in "the big chair" when RTB finishes up.

It really depends on team success. If we go nowhere under Lyon, Boris gets stained by association.

 

[gringo2011]

I think Lyon is there primarily to fix a spineless team and footy dpt. The rest is suck it and see.

I think they wanted someone to come in and turn Lether's misguided list build into a beautiful swan but Lyon gave them a list of needs and wants which included the footy department rebuild. We were trying to patch up under Ratts but Lyon was able to bring his own crew in who are a bit of a dad's army of old codgers but all experienced pros.

Lyon's coaching has been hard to watch but he has structured up the footy department to look like an AFL standard set up. Under Richo we made local footy clubs look professional. Watching us at Seaford it was like going to the kids community footy club watching them go about it.


He's cleaned up the backroom and as everyone says in footy you can't have success on field until you do. Hopefully Lyon ends up carrying us back up the ladder but if he doesn't at least we now have a model to work off. We'd been derelict so for so long that no-one even knew what a footy department should look like anymore.

 

[gringo2011]

This is what I thought, and I still think it is correct, but it does leave one philosophical problem. How did the mob have the balls to sack Ratts in the first place and engineer the heist?

I think Bassat finally realised that the guys in the footy department were not the answer. We were about to push Lethers and Rath into the top positions inside the club and all footy department decisions would have gone through those guys.

I still think Bassat has the will to fix the club's issues. Not sure of his competence yet but so far he's at least found the problem.... the last morons were trying to find a light switch with a box stuck on their heads.

 

[ScrappyDo]

This is what I thought, and I still think it is correct, but it does leave one philosophical problem. How did the mob have the balls to sack Ratts in the first place and engineer the heist?

Because they were faced with overwhelming evidence.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I think they wanted someone to come in and turn Lether's misguided list build into a beautiful swan but Lyon gave them a list of needs and wants which included the footy department rebuild. We were trying to patch up under Ratts but Lyon was able to bring his own crew in who are a bit of a dad's army of old codgers but all experienced pros.

Lyon's coaching has been hard to watch but he has structured up the footy department to look like an AFL standard set up. Under Richo we made local footy clubs look professional. Watching us at Seaford it was like going to the kids community footy club watching them go about it.


He's cleaned up the backroom and as everyone says in footy you can't have success on field until you do. Hopefully Lyon ends up carrying us back up the ladder but if he doesn't at least we know have a model to work off. We'd been derelict so for so long that no-one even knew what a footy department should look like anymore.

If that's the case he should be the CEO.
Not the coach.

 

[gringo2011]

If that's the case he should be the CEO.
Not the coach.

Director of footy would suit him IMO. Get an up to date younger coaching set up under him.

 

[SG34]

Because they were faced with overwhelming evidence.

That is a serious call. Gutsy. It would have been easier to swim with the tide and let inertia do its thing. Major call.

 

[austinnn]

Director of footy would suit him IMO. Get an up to date younger coaching set up under him.

In a way, isn't that what's happening? He's taking the heat for now and stamping his authority on the team, but bedding in his assistants to take the reins in a few years. Our actual DOF is a placeholder anyway, his long-trusted S&C man Misson.

 

[Verdun66]

He is ensuring we set up for the future. Get plenty of top resource behind the scenes. Better drafting and development. What we have complained about for as long as I can remember.

No more quick fixes….or bandaids. Draft and develop. Doesn’t happen overnight. Those that think he can (or should) coach us to quick success with a thin list are not realistic. He alludes to our shortfalls often enough. The playing style isn’t attractive but I see it as trying to develop a basic structure for the future. And not get flogged most weeks.

We’ve been skating on thin ice for years. Trading out picks for half decent players. Not attracting free agents. Perpetually coming 9-12. No Man’s land. We have been patient for a long time. But it bore no fruit. Can’t really see another way frankly.

I have followed us for over 60 years. Think I am fairly hardened by now. I haven’t seen light since about 2011. All my opinion but I think we are getting a core of the team to get success in the future. But much more to get layered in.

Interesting that we are doing that as Geelong and Melbourne start to slide. Adelaide? Port? Most of the teams on the rise went through recent (and not such recent) pain. Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn. Maybe we have to go through a bit more pain.

 

[ScrappyDo]

That is a serious call. Gutsy. It would have been easier to swim with the tide and let inertia do its thing. Major call.

Gutsy sort of.
People who create billion dollar empires tend to have all tend to have extreme levels of pragmatism and don't fall into the emotional traps that the rest of us do.
Ratts' stocks bottomed out almost overnight in footy terms and they simply didn't go chasing after the sunk cost.
Upon realisation of the mistake a review was held using an executioner whose opinion was beyond reproach.
Lyon being available and Ratts' termination payout set gave them a known outcome to the whole affair that was agreed in the backrooms beforehand.
It was a very standard corporate execution that bought upgrades everywhere and another grace period with supporters.

Lyon said from the start the focus will be on drafting and football education. Perhaps he didn't realise the extent of the required education, or perhaps he did. The list, apart from a handful of trade-ins had only ever known Richo and Ratts so really it was starting again from almost scratch.
Lyon also said the next coach would be developed internally and was all praising of Geelong's system. He's also credited Enright with developing the game plan, whatever the eff it's supposed to be. Boris is obviously the next in line so far a planning goes, but you'd assume the handover date is still TBD unless they've already set one.
One thing that's changed in the circa 2 years since appointed is that Lyon is no longer backing our senior players and has switched to "building around Windy and co" so the timeline has blown out in kind.

So with all that said, there's either a plan or I'm desperate, delusional and making shit up again. But IMHO it makes Ratts' sacking both obvious and easy, whilst justifiable under good business practices.

 

[littlecreatures]

I think they wanted someone to come in and turn Lether's misguided list build into a beautiful swan but Lyon gave them a list of needs and wants which included the footy department rebuild. We were trying to patch up under Ratts but Lyon was able to bring his own crew in who are a bit of a dad's army of old codgers but all experienced pros.

Lyon's coaching has been hard to watch but he has structured up the footy department to look like an AFL standard set up. Under Richo we made local footy clubs look professional. Watching us at Seaford it was like going to the kids community footy club watching them go about it.


He's cleaned up the backroom and as everyone says in footy you can't have success on field until you do. Hopefully Lyon ends up carrying us back up the ladder but if he doesn't at least we know have a model to work off. We'd been derelict so for so long that no-one even knew what a footy department should look like anymore.

When you’re not talking about bottom outs Gringo you talk some fervid gold. IMO, this is on the money. I’m still not 100% Lyon is the man, think we’ll find out in next 12-18 months of footy, but is he what we need to get this club one step closer to where it needs to be when we look at the wider picture (I think it’s hard to say no).

 

[austinnn]

Gutsy sort of.
People who create billion dollar empires tend to have all tend to have extreme levels of pragmatism and don't fall into the emotional traps that the rest of us do.
Ratts' stocks bottomed out almost overnight in footy terms and they simply didn't go chasing after the sunk cost.
Upon realisation of the mistake a review was held using an executioner whose opinion was beyond reproach.
Lyon being available and Ratts' termination payout set gave them a known outcome to the whole affair that was agreed in the backrooms beforehand.
It was a very standard corporate execution that bought upgrades everywhere and another grace period with supporters.

Lyon said from the start the focus will be on drafting and football education. Perhaps he didn't realise the extent of the required education, or perhaps he did. The list, apart from a handful of trade-ins had only ever known Richo and Ratts so really it was starting again from almost scratch.
Lyon also said the next coach would be developed internally and was all praising of Geelong's system. He's also credited Enright with developing the game plan, whatever the eff it's supposed to be. Boris is obviously the next in line so far a planning goes, but you'd assume the handover date is still TBD unless they've already set one.
One thing that's changed in the circa 2 years since appointed is that Lyon is no longer backing our senior players and has switched to "building around Windy and co" so the timeline has blown out in kind.

So with all that said, there's either a plan or I'm desperate, delusional and making shit up again. But IMHO it makes Ratts' sacking both obvious and easy, whilst justifiable under good business practices.

Perfect summary, and perhaps a reason for murmurs of unrest within the senior playing group.

 

[Username Unknown]

I think they wanted someone to come in and turn Lether's misguided list build into a beautiful swan but Lyon gave them a list of needs and wants which included the footy department rebuild. We were trying to patch up under Ratts but Lyon was able to bring his own crew in who are a bit of a dad's army of old codgers but all experienced pros.

Lyon's coaching has been hard to watch but he has structured up the footy department to look like an AFL standard set up. Under Richo we made local footy clubs look professional. Watching us at Seaford it was like going to the kids community footy club watching them go about it.


He's cleaned up the backroom and as everyone says in footy you can't have success on field until you do. Hopefully Lyon ends up carrying us back up the ladder but if he doesn't at least we know have a model to work off. We'd been derelict so for so long that no-one even knew what a footy department should look like anymore.

100% Gringo! Ratts lost the playing group, and Leathers had created football program not up to AFL standard.

Lyon is building a football program/department for sustained success. Enright is his prodige.

It hasn’t gone how I expected it too, but I will believe we are going in the right direction and will show faith until I see it hasn’t worked.

Can’t change twelve years of bad decisions in two years.

 

[SG34]

……People who create billion dollar empires …tend to have extreme levels of pragmatism and don't fall into the emotional traps that the rest of us do….

oxymoron?
How does a pragmatic person become a St Kilda fan????
Much less, stay one!!!


“Extreme pragmatism”…that is my meme for the day! I will tell myself that as I attempt to drag my arse to the pool for some laps!

 

[PoppedCorn]

if a few older ones don't like the heat
piss off

we don't care as we've seen it all
winmar in a bulldogs jumper and plugger in a swans one
players leaving and winning flags
cant get much worse than that shite, so water off a ducks back

 

[gringo2011]

He is ensuring we set up for the future. Get plenty of top resource behind the scenes. Better drafting and development. What we have complained about for as long as I can remember.

No more quick fixes….or bandaids. Draft and develop. Doesn’t happen overnight. Those that think he can (or should) coach us to quick success with a thin list are not realistic. He alludes to our shortfalls often enough. The playing style isn’t attractive but I see it as trying to develop a basic structure for the future. And not get flogged most weeks.

We’ve been skating on thin ice for years. Trading out picks for half decent players. Not attracting free agents. Perpetually coming 9-12. No Man’s land. We have been patient for a long time. But it bore no fruit. Can’t really see another way frankly.

I have followed us for over 60 years. Think I am fairly hardened by now. I haven’t seen light since about 2011. All my opinion but I think we are getting a core of the team to get success in the future. But much more to get layered in.

Interesting that we are doing that as Geelong and Melbourne start to slide. Adelaide? Port? Most of the teams on the rise went through recent (and not such recent) pain. Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn. Maybe we have to go through a bit more pain.

You can't build a list through the national draft alone any more. We have very little to show for all the drafts from about when we were playing finals up until 2021.

From 2005 until Nas in 2021 we have got Ross and Webster 2011, Battle 2016, Clark and Paton 2017, King 2018, Byrnes 2019.
Collingwood have multiple players drafted from 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 etc. And built every year after that.

We are getting the draft more right than wrong now but need to continue to pick off FAs and fringe players in to patch up holes and fill out the age profiles.

Letting players walk for compensation is a danger because it's a gamble with players in exactly the age we can't afford to lose and need to replace.

Losing guys like Marshall who are closer to the end would actually be a better model even if it is also a dangerous gamble.

 

[hayes]

Lyon was brought in because we didn’t know if the problem was the coach or the list and the only way to know for sure was bring in a proven coach, and even though we’ve been playing a boring brand it’s looking like the problem is the list. Despite there being a few good young pieces to work with I think we’re kidding ourselves if we think we can rebuild without top 5 picks to use on midfielders. History shows you can’t buy them.

I like everything he’s set up off field but we desperately need someone from the Hardwick/Richmond tree to change things up offensively.