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Mental Strength the Key: Lyon

17 Aug 2008

ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon says mental strength and an honest four-quarter effort against Fremantle had put the Saints back in control of their own finals destiny.

Trailing by 14 points mid-way through the second quarter, St Kilda stormed back into the game kicking 13 goals to two to crush Fremantle by 43 points.

St Kilda now moves back into eighth spot but Lyon said the win meant nothing more than ensuring the Saints would determine their own fate over the remaining two rounds against Adelaide and Essendon.

“You can’t win finals until you’re in them and we’re clearly not in them (yet),” he said.

“As much as interstate wins are difficult you only get four points. You don’t get any more and you don’t get any less.

“So what it means is that we stay in the eight and we’ve got (our) destiny in our own control. That’s what it means.”

Lyon said the players had shown great resolve to run out the game in such warm conditions.

“Coming to Subiaco (on a) really hot day against a team in really good form, we knew we needed a really even team contribution and I thought we really got that today,” he said.

“Our leaders really stood up. Everyone led but in particular at the pointy end (Nick) Riewoldt and (Lenny) Hayes were outstanding.

“We just persisted and persevered until the weight of numbers swung it our way.

“We’ve had three games interstate this year that have been really quite hot. You just have to work your rotations but to the players credit they’re so professional and they get such good advice that even though it’s difficult, it’s not insurmountable if you prepare and you’re mentally strong.

“And in a couple of the other interstate games we weren’t (but) today we were. That’s probably our best four-quarter performance today.”

Lyon paid tribute to Stephen Milne’s courage for playing a key role and kicking three goals in the Saints fightback despite suffering serious swelling to his cheek after an early clash of heads.

“He was fine. I was concerned because you’ve got a responsibility as coach not to put your players in danger but the medical opinion was that it was just puffed up and there was no health risk.

“He has his knockers. But he’s been at St Kilda a while, he’s a finals player, he’s kicked 45 goals. Is he Wayne Carey? No, but he’s got a role to play at St Kilda.”

Ross Lyon gives directions at Subiaco Oval

More Information

Official AFL Website of the
St Kilda Football Club