St Kilda’s on field success in the space of such significant off-field adversity has been nothing short of remarkable. When you think about it, the series of events that have taken place since last year’s heartbreaking grand final loss would be enough for any club to well and truly implode, let alone be sitting in second spot on the ladder.
Somehow Ross Lyon has managed to keep his players mentally focused.
Has he got a psychology degree that we don’t know about? Either way, he’s already done a PHD in the social behaviour of elite sports men.
Not by choice though.
So much of football is played between the ears, and while ability is one thing, mental strength is another.
I just don’t think Lyon has been given enough credit for his strong leadership and steely resolve throughout such a tough period.
Perhaps we should be calling him lion heart, not Ross Lyon?
It’s a form of mental courage the entire club is adapting to, and a win tonight in the grand final re-match against Geelong will go along way to proving that even further.
Just imagine if the Saints can gain the ultimate redemption on that last day in September. That would be an amazing story!
Now before you jump on my back and start asking what’s with all the man love for Ross Lyon?
Let me say, he’s not exactly a favourite amongst the media fraternity, and he’s been more than prickly at the best of times at his press conferences. But his job is to win football matches and that’s exactly what’s he’s been able to do.
The timeline is incredible. Picture this …
You spend the summer in mourning after losing a grand final that really could have gone either way. A favourite son in Luke Ball leaves and the club is unable to strike a deal in trade week and therefore don’t receive any compensation.
Looking to recruit more speed into the side, Lyon then takes a chance on dashing midfielder, Andrew Lovett. However, within three months, Lovett is facing rape charges, the club has been brought into disrepute, and the Saints are forced to give him the boot before he’s even played a game.
By round three, your superstar player and captain goes down with a severe hamstring injury and looks to be in doubt for the entire season.
Then two of your emerging stars are caught up in a police and AFL investigation relating to a 16 year-old girl and a school footy clinic.
Finally, two of your most experienced players are again dragged through the papers after new details emerge about an allegation of rape against them six years ago.
This all happened in the space of nine months, and it reads more like the plot from a Hollywood movie than the diary of an AFL football club.
Regardless, the script still has the potential for a fairytale ending, and if it does, Ross Lyon deserves a huge amount of the credit.
The Saints are still marching towards September and Ross Lyon is leading from the front.
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