Dockers coach Mark Harvey during the AFL Round 10 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the St Kilda Saints at Patersons Stadium, Perth. Slattery Images
Fremantle’s sacking of coach Mark Harvey, and the subsequent revelation St Kilda coach Ross Lyon would be his replacement, was as unexpected as it was crazy as it was dramatic as it was gobsmacking. In the space of an hour last night, the footy world was blindsided.
Fremantle turned its back on a coach that has done almost everything right, at least in the past two years, with a year left on his contract.
St Kilda lost a coach it desperately wanted to keep and who had taken them to three grand finals, with a year left on his contract.
Melbourne, who were reportedly prepared to offer Lyon a five-year deal, were outmanoeuvred by a competing club for the second time in the space of a week.
It was incredible stuff, and it came from nowhere.
While it’s true the Dockers did not make the finals this season, the fact is few saw that as a poor reflection on Harvey, who many consider the best ever Dockers coach.
This season the club was simply decimated by injuries. Each and every week there were at least ten players on the sidelines. 23 players were on the final injury list of the season. It’s hard to recall a team in recent history being so harshly hit by injuries.
You could say that for the team to remain as competitive as it did despite the injury crisis was a positive reflection on Harvey’s coaching abilities, if anything.
Last season Harvey returned the Dockers to the finals – even flirting with a top four finish for most of the year – despite most in the media saying he was on his last legs at the beginning of the season. He took a list few saw life in and turned it into a team that was exciting to watch and, when fit at least, got results.
Then all of the sudden, he’s sacked.
When the news hit, it just seemed so bizarre. It was perplexing as to why Freo could possibly think of it as a good idea. No reasons were initially given for the club’s decision, which made it even worse.
Within an hour of the news breaking, though, Ross Lyon’s name started to be mentioned. Things started to become a little clearer.
From a Freo perspective, Lyon has runs on the board and would therefore be considered more of a “safe bet” going forward than Harvey. That doesn’t make it the right decision, mind you, especially considering the club have denied Harvey the chance to score more runs himself.
It just means they’ve taken the safer option. On top of that, it means Harvey is incredibly unlucky and has been judged unbelievably harshly.
From Lyon’s perspective, while a lot of St Kilda and Melbourne fans would be angry right now, you can comprehend why he chose the Dockers.
After St Kilda’s finals exit last weekend, Lyon said: “It certainly feels like the end of an era, to be honest.”
He clearly felt the Saints were in need of a rebuild that would take several years.
Melbourne, too, aren’t all that close to a premiership despite at least being at the back end of their rebuilding stage.
Freo, meanwhile, are a realistic chance to make the top four next year. They are a predominantly young list. They have the best ruckman in the league and a handful of rising stars. In many ways for Lyon this move is akin to getting control over St Kilda’s list a couple of years earlier on in their development than when he took over the Saints.
That’s a pretty good situation to be in.
The main criticism levelled at Lyon last night was the fact he bypassed his management and negotiated with Freo alone, while his management was putting together a new deal at St Kilda. It’s fair to raise an eyebrow at this, but it’s worth noting his (now former) manager, Craig Kelly, is also Harvey’s manager.
When you sit down and think about it, it’s a huge conflict of interest. There’s no way the Dockers would want Harvey to be made aware his position was under threat – especially if the deal ended up falling through.
It sounds a bit rough Lyon going out on his own, but it does seem like there was a sound reason behind it.
Then there’s Melbourne in all of this. I won’t stick the boot into them here (their supporters still haven’t forgiven me for Tuesday’s column) and it’s because they were just unfortunate that another club closer to a premiership than them was also in the market for Lyon.
Some will say this reflects on Melbourne’s standing as a club. That’s rubbish. If you are to compare the lists of both the Dockers and Demons, you are not comparing apples and apples – one club is simply further along than the other.
Lyon picked his club accordingly, as you would expect him to.
Last night’s news shocked the AFL community. There are plenty of questions yet to be asked. Will Mark Harvey get another job? What does this mean for the Adelaide, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs coaching searches?
Does this improve Fremantle’s chances next year? Or was it more important to for them overhaul the fitness department than the coaching department?
Where do St Kilda go from here? Do they go with an experienced coach or another untried coach?
It will be interesting to see what happens next.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I think that the fact that it was done in secret, and Harvey wasn't told until after the event, is the most shocking thing about it. Yes, there was a conflict of interest, however to do so in secrecy was deceptive; and what if Lyon said no? Not tell Harvey that they tried to replace him but the deal fell through? I think that Fremantle should be ashamed about the way they did it. Not only did they go behind his back, and not even speak to him first, but to just cast him out? They didn't even give him time to clear out his office. "Then there’s Melbourne in all of this. I won’t stick the boot into them here (their supporters still haven’t forgiven me for Tuesday’s column)" You're right about that. "and it’s because they were just unfortunate that another club closer to a premiership than them was also in the market for Lyon." I never wanted Lyon. The coach whom I'm really disappointed about missing out on was Alistair Clarkson. He would have been amazing.
brendan
Guest
The game plan Lyon used at Stkilda wont work on the open spaces of Subiaco oval so will be interesting to see how he adapts.The money he is reported to be on seems overs to me for a coach that doesnt have the score on the board.Bad luck for Harvey but in his time there he didnt get them close enough to a flag.
sheek
Guest
I know this might be incredibly naive of me to ask, but surely, surely, the season can end before club boards, players, coaches & their managers go about their frenzy of moving addresses from one club to another? Surely this is not asking TOO much?? Surely, there is enough time from early October to say late January to do all this wheeling & dealing??? 4 full months of negotiations???? No, I guess I'm being incredibly naive..........
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
On St Kilda's style, I think a lot of supporters view Lyon as: "Good coach, but I wouldn't want him coaching my team." Might (at least partly) explain why Freo fans are so unhappy right now.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Hawthorn's a poor example. They have also missed finals because of injury concerns. Just like Fremantle. Then you've also got to remember that Fremantle's injury concerns weren't just a typical club with a few banged up players. It was almost unprecedented the number of injuries they had. 23 players weren't able to play the final game of the season. 23!!! While Freo have suffered injuries in previous years, it was completely different and so much worse this year.
kick to kick
Guest
I'm not entirely convinced that the injury problems Fremantle has suffered - repeatedly over a number of seasons, are just a matter of bad luck. Teams that have performed consistently over recent years have all managed the inevitable rolling injury toll. Collingwood, Geelong, St Kilda, Hawthorn, Sydney have played finals in recent years despite various injury concerns. Conditioning, recovery, injury list management, teaching players to monitor their own physical condition, early intervention and rest cycles to prevent injuries escalating: all these are part of the professionalism of a modern football club. This is not to say that Fremantle's injuries are Harvey's fault - but failure through injury has happened too often over the past few years for the senior coach to avoid any responsibility.
Republican
Guest
I am old Saints man and I have to say I agree with Seano. St Kildas style of play has long been the ugliest in the League and their culture is probably the worst also. I would lile to think that Blood is thicker than H20 and out of respect for my dear departed father, I do maintain a sense of loyalty to the Red Black and White however, they have'nt exactly inspired any fervor in me for decades particularly since growing up in Canberra. Conversely, Swans do, I guess because they have supported Canberras footy devoted for along time now and while they also have a history of playing negative defence orientated footy, I sense this may be changing under the tutorship of Longmire. Go the Bloods!
Macca
Guest
He is the reason that bottom 6 is so bad, he traded in Dean Polo, Andrew Lovett, Brett Peake etc where are the kids coming through, Geelong has found Menzel, Christensen, Vardy et el who have the Saints got? On Bailey, look at the list he inherited, absolutely terrible, the Dee's needed to give him 4-5 years to build a team, they got 3 years through and lost their courage and now they have put themselves back a year.
westcoaster
Guest
I agree with Seano - if Ross Lyon couldn't achieve a flag with the talented group of players he inherited from Grant Thomas [another hard done by coach] what does he hope to achieve with Freo's averagely credentialed list? Sure, they have a couple of outstanding players [albeit getting a bit long in the tooth], a few generally good players and one or two promising kids, but after that, there's not a lot to hang your hat on. Lyon has obviously gone for the money - integrity and loyalty don't come into it. If Freo needed a new coach, they required a real hard-edged one, not a wimpy, wishy-washy negative game plan architect like they've just supposedly paid $7.5m [$1.5m per year] for the next five years. If Lyon can't get any improvement in Freo's performances in the next couple of seasons [hardly likely], the members will be baying for blood [management AND coach] - and rightly so.
brendan
Guest
Next year ,including gws, there will be seven coaches in there first year at there clubs amazing.Harvey didnt have the luck to make the dockers a force but im astounded they have done this to secure Ross Lyon.He had the cattle at Stkilda and couldnt get them a flag.IMO his game plan is flawed restricting sides to low scores only works if you kick enough goals.In many Stkilda games the saints held sway everywhere but the scoreboard and were beaten by five minutes of good football from the opposition.Once again he gets the chance to take over a side reasonably established and it will be interesting to see how he moderates his game plan to suit subiaco oval.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I couldn't tell whether that's a serious comment or whether you're being tongue in cheek?
Seano
Guest
Ross Lyon is the worst coach in the game, sooooo boring the saints made me sick I hated there boring rubbish, at least freo are never on TV so I won't have to watch, Harvey is a good coach an a great fit for the demons or saints, dogs too but I guess they will go with Cameron. Sure he made GF's but with grant thomas's list, they saints should have stuck with Thommo they would have a flag now! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
JamesP
Guest
Macca, further to the above, Most commentators have said that Lyon took an average list and almost got them to 2 flags. He is a good coach. The saints did have some genuine superstars (Reiwoldt, Lenny, Nicky Dal, Joey Montagna and BJ), but it quickly fell away from there. Their bottom 6 would be lucky to get a game at any team outside GC and GWS.
JamesP
Guest
No disagree Macca. I think that Melbourne list is talented but needs to be brought down to earth. I think they need a hard task master, someone who wll show them some discipline. They went with the untried Dean Bailey and it backfired. I would have recommended either Rodney Eade or Lyon. Both are very "defensive" coaches who will ensure that we don't bleed goals (Exhibit A Essendon style), and will we quick to pull them into line.
Macca
Guest
James - Melb would be much better with a young coach, to me Lyon inherited a good team and got the to play super defensive footy. Melbourne needs more.
Republican
Guest
Again, the obscene culture of money rears it's ugly head in compromising any semblance of human decency or virtues that sport once espoused but also any professional ethics, the latter being one hell of an oxymoron in respect of elite sport these days.
todd
Guest
I think given Harveys achievements at the Dockers he'd be a good pick up for Melbourne
stabpass
Guest
I think the amount of money, if $1.5 million is correct, then that is obsene, there is no doubt that Freo will lose some members over this, but will also gain some. I guess Freo's intention is to show itself as a big boy on the block ( no prisoners) , it may backfire, but we will not know for several years. IMO Lyon has a very negative game plan, but then again Malthouse did have a defensive game plan at tWCE, and he is still talked about in hushed tones in the west. (2 flags) Football in the west, is generally open, fast and attacking, not similar to Eastern states football.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I don't think there was an functioning adult in Perth who hadn't heard this news within about 30 minutes, the whole state is losing its head one way or the other this morning, haha. Absolute ruthlessness, shocked, absolutely shocked by the Docker's administration.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Might post a couple of updates now on today's developments so far. Andrew Demetriou has his say "Ross Lyon should rightly face questions about his integrity after his sudden defection to Fremantle, AFL chief Andrew Demetriou says. Mr Demetriou said today he had been in the dark as everyone else about the Lyon's unexpected move and accepted many would be questioning his honour. 'I think people are entitled to ask questions about issues of commitment (and) integrity,' he said. 'I'm not privy to all of the inside conversation … but we can probably read something into Craig Kelly in terminating their agreement. 'I think Craig and Elite Sport Properties are pretty honourable … so they were pretty surprised as well. I didn't know this was going on. And I think it's understandable that people are questioning the value of contracts and commitments and so forth.'" Mick Malthouse ruled out for Saints job "'We will not be talking to Mick Malthouse if he is contracted with Collingwood,' CEO Michael Nettlefold said. Despite Malthouse's reign at the Pies ending this season, Nettlefold said he believed Malthouse had a contract to stay at Collingwood in another capacity. 'There is a lot of talent out there,' he said, aware that the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Adelaide already are head-hunting new coaches." Coaches Association responds, Harvey shattered "'The AFL Coaches Association is extremely disappointed that Mark Harvey was not given the opportunity to complete his coaching contract at Fremantle Football Club,' chief executive Danny Frawley said. 'Given the injury rate at Fremantle this year, Mark did a remarkable job in keeping the team in contention until the very end of the season. 'Regardless of contract payouts, coaches simply want to be given the opportunity to complete their tenure, in this case a two-year contract extension agreed upon only 12 months ago. Harvs is shattered that he won’t get the opportunity to finish on good terms with Fremantle, a club to which he has given his all.'" Source for the above: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/lyon-quits-to-replace-sacked-harvey/story-e6frf9jf-1226138146342 Lyon's big pay day "The Age's chief football writer, Caroline Wilson, told 3AW this morning that Lyon had agreed to a five-year contract worth up to $1.5 million a season in the cashed-up west. She said Lyon had spoken of the effect of the global financial crisis on his finances and Freo had outgunned the Saints' offer of a new four-year contract with improved financial terms. He also had questioned the club's culture after a year overshadowed by off-field scandals. '‘He’s done it for the money, he’s done it for security, he’s done it for his family, he’s done it because he doesn’t think he can take this group any further,'’ she said. '‘I think he had severe doubts about St Kilda, their financial issues and their culture.'" Source: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/saints-dockers-reel-as-defector-lyon-replaces-harvey-20110916-1kckv.html