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Lyon questions hunger

10 April 2011

ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has publicly questioned his players' hunger and how close they are to winning a premiership in a brutal post-match assessment of his team's 52-point loss to Essendon on Sunday.

For the first time, Lyon has publicly entertained the thought that St Kilda's chance of winning a premiership with its current group of players has passed.

"If it's a transition phase, that's what it is. This group has been to five prelims, three under me and two grand finals under me," Lyon said on Sunday night.

"Maybe it's a full transition. Maybe everyone's been right, maybe I've been in denial, maybe we've climbed the mountain too many times and we need to regenerate."

Lyon said the team that fronted the Bombers on Sunday evening barely resembled the side that has made it to grand finals in the past two years.

"I need to go away and assess it. I can't defend the indefensible. That was indefensible tonight even though they are a very good football team I thought at stages we were non-competitive," he said.

"The shackles are off; we talk about winning the ball and attacking. That's all garbage to be honest."

Lyon's comments came one week after defender Jason Gram conceded that the players may be lacking hunger after coming so close to premiership success in the past two seasons.

The Saints coach echoed those sentiments.

"Maybe he's a good judge. On what I've seen, how do we interpret that? We didn't look hungry," he said.

"At the minute, if you want to get a kick and an uncontested mark, come and play against the Saints.

Lyon said he would not shy away from his role in the loss but added that the players' inability to stick to simple principles was a telling factor in the loss.

"Ultimately it is a coaching issue. Myself and the coaching group, we've had things in place and basics done very well for a long period of time. But we're not adhering to any basics. That broke the spirit of the team," he said.

Adding to the disappointment was that the performance came on the day of captain Nick Riewoldt's 200th game. While Lyon is not one for sentimental occasions in football, he said the effort showed little respect for Riewoldt's contribution to the club.

"It's not about milestones but I am really disappointed for Nick. I'm disappointed for our supporters. I haven't heard the heartbreak as I heard going on to the ground for a long period of time," he said.

"I think this group has delivered in spades for effort. Clearly as a coaching group and a playing group we've got to take responsibility for not delivering on some expectations. Clearly something's going on, I'm not sure what."

Source: www.saints.com.au

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon tries to rev up his team during the Saints' heavy loss to Essendon

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