Ross Lyon speaks during the media conference to announce the new Fremantle Coach at the Woodside Plaza, Perth. Slattery Images
A lot of venom and anger has been directed the way of Ross Lyon the past two days. Naturally, his decision to cross from St Kilda to Fremantle raised more than a few eyebrows. But a lot of the criticism has been unfair, sensationalised and just hard to fathom.
Take the words of ABC broadcaster and journalist Gerard Whateley for example, who’s taken to Twitter to denounce Lyon’s actions.
“Lyon left at the right time in the wrong way in a cloud of duplicity and deceit. And he took casualties. The greatest of which was truth,” read one very bold tweet.
He followed up with comments to the Fox Sports website.
“How Ross Lyon’s reputation remains intact as a result of this is just a little beyond my comprehension at the moment,” he said.
“It’s an old-fashioned coup but it’s absolutely deceitful, duplicitous and distasteful,” he also said.
Give me a break, Gerard.
Yes, of course, questions need to be asked at this time, that’s a given. But that doesn’t give anyone a license to go as over the top as that.
A lot of the anger centres around the fact Lyon did the deal with Fremantle without the knowledge of either his management, Craig Kelly and ESP, or his club. On the surface, this doesn’t make Lyon look too good – but that’s only until you take the time to consider why this approach may have been taken.
The fact is, Mark Harvey’s management also happens to be ESP. This created an obvious conflict of interest. Had Lyon gone to his manager about the Freo offer, Harvey would have (in all likeliness) then found out his club was shopping around for his replacement.
Similarly, had Lyon told his club about the Freo offer, word would’ve gotten out quite easily. Even had he attempted to stall negotiations between his management and St Kilda, there’s a good chance ESP would then know something was up.
The obvious problem here is that if Lyon had alerted either his management or his club and then the deal with Fremantle fell through, the Dockers would be left with a coach who knew his club had been trying to replace him. That would be a horrible situation that could tear apart the club and arguably set them back several years.
You’d imagine that if Lyon was to put a rival club in such a position, there would be just as many – if not more – questions over his integrity and honour than we’ve seen the past two days.
Or maybe, just maybe, in that set of circumstances the anger would be directed at the entity that actually did place the knife in Harvey’s back (but that’s another column entirely…).
Either way, when you sit down and consider what the alternative for Lyon actually was, his actions don’t seem all that despicable.
Too many have been willing to stand from afar and opine, “it could have been handled better.”
The truth is it actually could not have been handled better. An alternative that could’ve very well ended in Lyon tearing apart a rival football club is in no way “better”.
Whateley was not alone in his criticism of Lyon, it should be stressed. Even Andrew Demetriou fell for the trap, saying: “I think people are entitled to ask questions about issues of commitment (and) integrity.”
But the irony was that not even St Kilda could bring themselves to make such remarks.
“Disappointment is about the only word I can come up with, because Ross served us well. He’s achieved a lot and I had every reason to believe up until 5.30 last night he was going to continue with the St Kilda Football Club. I wouldn’t say [we feel] betrayed, because football is that sort of business, people move on, things change,” said CEO Michael Nettefold yesterday.
Captain Nick Riewoldt, while also “disappointed”, was in a similar frame of mind discussing the issue on Channel Seven.
“I respect his decision. He’s been a great coach for us and we have achieved relative success together, and I wish him all the best for the future,” he said.
These are not the comments of men who feel they have been deceived or are the victims of duplicity. Rather, they are the comments of men who can look at situations like these while being realistic.
As for those who weren’t able to do that in recent days, maybe now they owe Ross an apology.
As a final note, this is my 200th column at The Roar. I’d like to thank all of you out there who’ve taken the time to read my work, leave comments (be they positive or negative) and allowed me the opportunity to do something I thoroughly enjoy. Hopefully there’s many more columns to come, thanks.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I completely agree. Essendon acted disgracefully. It astounds me that the AFL didn't even censure Essendon. Surely, interviewing a candidate knowing full well that you won't offer them the job but wanting to access their knowledge is against the rules? Still, the AFL has never been one for consistency.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Sorry, if I came across as particularly hard. You're probably right about Lyon. I've actually become less cold towards him- although I still think he was hypocritical in regards to Luke Ball- having read an article in the Age (originally published in the West Australian) in which he talked about what happened. His comments that it would be 'offensive' and 'illogical' to contact Harvey, and to have publicly offered sympathy for him would have been 'patronizing' are correct IMO. Still, I do think that Fremantle have a lot of questions to ask. While they are not the first club to execute a coach in this fashion (Essendon treated Knights equally badly), I do think that it is about time that the silent execution was eliminated from the game.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"I should clarify my point about Eade..........Worsfold is another example of that. He was so close to getting the chop even though he dragged them out of the s##t and won a GF etc" I completely agree. It is an extremely tough job to be a coach. "Great point Amazon" Thanks. :D
Saint Nico
Guest
Well, gotta call half time for a moment. This is one of the best debates I have had the pleasure to read for a long time. I really need to add this though and its a little food for thought. Any person out there that is working for a living, works to better themselves no? Ross Lyon is just like the rest of us. I'm sure, as much as he enjoys coaching, he's only doing it for the money and to better his family. Just sucks that people got burned over it but I'm sure, if there was another way (Lyons and Harvey having the same managment team) that Ross would not have been so secretive about the whole saga. Alot of other crap that I need not repeat as it has already been well debated in this post could have happened should the Dockers Board and Ross have been open with their intentions. I love my team, I feel a little ripped over it, so would all the Saints support base, not to mention the team would also, however, again, Ross is just a bloke out to better himself and unfortunatley Harvey's demise as the Dockers coach was a by-product. Loyalty? Deceipt? IMO no.. Clubs turn over Coaches, Why cant Coaches turn over Clubs?...or do they wait for a couple of bad seasons and bam..the axe falls. Good luck Mark! Good Luck Ross!. Time on!
TIm
Guest
Used to really like Gerard until his over reaction to this saga. It's ironic he mentions moral high ground in the first sentence, he was claiming the high moral ground all article. It was so nauseating I could hardly finish it. How can people not see that Lyon couldn't raise the idea of moving to Freo with his management because they were the same as Harvey's? If that isn't a conflict of interest i have no idea what is. And yes, like others have commented, where was all the outrage with the Hird-Thompson-Knights saga last year?
bestywins
Guest
Yes that's exactly my point. And great point s you have also raised Lucan. Free info and just taking the piss out of the applicants when the deal was already done and dusted with golden boy weeks or even months before. Smoke and mirrors and BS while they already had negotiated and inked a deal with HIRD. And good Gerard never said a word about it and when these GWS deals were being done he laughed it off as a sign of the times even though the rules were being broken with recruitment.
Lucan
Guest
The Essendon saga was bar far the worse act. They brought in applicants for a job that was never actually available to them, and had them present their intellectual property to a board who was just milking them. Essendon got free, unbiased, evaluations of their playing list and recommendations on directions and rivals game plans/styles. Why didn't the media, the coaches association, the managers, Andrew Demetriou, take the long handle to Essendon in this situation?????
bestywins
Guest
Obviously research doesn't suit your argument now mee too
me too
Guest
is the argument that duplicit actions are okay because others have acted that way? or is the argument simply that breaking trust and escaping a contract, all the while keeping all other concerned parties in tne dark, is not exactly moral behaviour? i would focus on the second. the first argument is simply excusing poor behaviour, and giving the green light to thers to act in a mercenary fashion. it seems there is a distinct 'me first' mentality - look out for number one. if this is where we are headed, then there is something wrong with our society, and values like honesty and trust have no place in business relationships. i will reiterate - lyon's behaviour was not ethical. it put himself above every other consideration and every other person involved. he willingly damaged others for personal gain and knowingly broke the trust of those around him. again, if you think that's okay, it comes down to personal ethics. if you think that's okay, simply because a few others may acted similarly, that again comes down to personal ethics. for me, and the likes of leigh matthews, god, even demetrio - it stinks. and just because saying so makes demetrio and others seem a bit hypocritical, doesn't make their opinion wrong. i certainly wouldn't do business with lyon, or anybody that thought his actions justified.
bestywins
Guest
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/i-want-to-be-essendon-coach-says-former-skipper-james-hird/story-e6frf9if-1225930250431 Read that and tell me where on earth is there one word suggesting that what transpired was underhanded,back stabbing, lying or deceitful. Just smoke and mirrors about Mark Thompson and all the BS that went with it. Hird did worse imo. He undermined a current coach through his media circus mates all the while denyinng that he even had a remote yearning for the job. The club and Hird methodically worked behind closed doors for a fair time to make sure everything looked like due process was gone through. No-one even questioned that the very same day that Hird got the job that Thompson told the geelong board he was burnt out and couldn't coach anymore. Read the story below http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/bomber-thompson-set-to-quit-ast-geelong-coach/story-e6frf9jf-1225930803947 Or how about this article in the australian below. NOT one word about underhanded,lying deceitful, DISLOYAL, or one word remotely close to the vicious attacks on Lyon. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/mark-bomber-thompson-to-be-james-hirds-boss-at-essendon/story-e6frg7mf-1225930260349 You have made a strong statement about doing research me too and ridiculouss exaggerations. Well where is your research on the media going for it over the whole Hird/Thompson/ Essendon/ Geelong saga. All that happened is that golden boy was going home and the media lapped it up and not dare say a bad word about him. Headlines read prodigal son returns, favourite son returns. Dream coaching coup by Essendon.
bestywins
Guest
Yep and has anyone said that Harvey "STOLE Chris Connolly's job back in 2007 round 16 NO. I don't recall Harvey showing one iota of sympathy for the sacked coach etc
bestywins
Guest
I should clarify my point about Eade. I was more or less saying that although he got them close to a GF he still had a use by date although he has proven he can coach and coach well, not how he was treated by the dogs. However his decision to bring acker to the club BACKFIRED big time. So that's why I think Lyon had to look after his own future as the saints were obviously seeing how the season panned out ,hence the 6 month delay. So Lyons could've been shown the door very quickly. So I was trying to say that even the proven coaches are looking over their shoulders because at any given time the axe could fall. I don't think he was treated poorly by the dogs at all. Worsfold is another example of that. He was so close to getting the chop even though he dragged them out of the s##t and won a GF etc "As the saying goes; there are two types of coaches, those who have been sacked and those whom are about to." Great point Amazon
ChrisH
Guest
Filthy club, filthy culture...it's amazing he hung around as long as he did.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
amazonfan, I was responding to five different comments at once so go easy. The point still stands, but what I should've also pointed out is that given the date of the article, Lyon would have made those comments to players before any contact had been made with Fremantle. (Sep 4 was the date Freo have said the first phone call took place, and that matched up with what journos were speculating before the press conference.)
Fake ex-AFL fan
Roar Rookie
Well said, this whole 'he broke a contract' blah blah blah just beggars belief. He exercised a clause in his contract - saying he 'broke it' is like saying I'm breaking a contract with my employer if I give one month's notice and leave to take another job. As for 'stealing' Harvey's job, the role of head coach at FFC was not his by some form of divine right, it's up to the CEO and board of the club to decide who fills that role. They decided they'd prefer Ross Lyon to fill that role, no one 'stole' anything. I agree that it was a tough call and feel a degree of sympathy for Harvey, but to suggest that defending Lyon indicates some questionable character trait really is absurd.
bestywins
Guest
Lyon didn't break a contract. His contract has a clause that says he can walk with 3 months notice. Please explain how he broke it. The saint had the same clause in yet a 6 month one "lyon broke a contract, stole a peers job, and arranged a contract at a rival." They ALL do it , so why the outright personal vicious attacks but not towards others ?? Essendon broke Knights contract, Hird STOLE a peers job, and arranged a contract for thompson who was at a rival club. Bomber thompson also had a walkout clause in his contract so why attack lyon for doing the same thing
bestywins
Guest
No-one in the media questioned Hirds character like the asaults on Lyons. The favourite golden boy returning home was the big story NOT the way he and the essondon board outrightly lied to everyone. The point WAS about the media, not to justify how the freo board went about it all. Just one week before they sacked Knights ,David Evans came out and said we didn't mention the coaching role in our 5 hour meeting !!!!! Yeah right !!! http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hird-sorry-to-make-waves-20100820-138za.html Yet the punters were supposed to swallow that and ten days later sacked him. Hird stated this also 10 days earlier, that he wouldn't be coaching in the AFL for the next 3 -5 years !!!!!! http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/i-wont-coach-for-now-james-hird/story-e6frf9jf-1225907502351 It's chalk and cheese what has happened at essendon and now freo. Yet No-one in the media attacked Hirds lying ,deceit or undermining of Knights. No-one questioned the lying the by the Essendon board in the above article. They were always going to appoint Hird and put up smoke screens all over the place to cover up the deceit and lying over a 2 month period You're right the point was about media favourites and Whatleys of the wall personal attack on the character of Lyon's. What else did you think that comment could be about ???????? Find me the same amount of attacks against Essendon with the same vicious wording and show me where Hird was called deceitful, underhanded and a back stabber ?????. I did do research on those points and for the life of me can't find a single article questioning. What you will find is the media using words and phrases like fairtale ending, dream coaching team etc etc , not underhanded, lying, backstabbing, unloyal or down right personal attacks
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"Those comments were in relation to the Melbourne job, not the Fremantle job. Lyon WAS being honest with players." That's ridiculous. So he was being honest because he was referring to the possibility of moving to one club, and not another? I know you don't think he did anything wrong, but that is just absurd.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
My apologies, you're right. Connelly coached them both times. For some reason, I thought Drum had coached them the first time. "If your point about Lyon having a go at Ball is on the money then I agree with your point on hypocrisy:" That's exactly my point. "And Lyon should own up to that fact." I completely agree. :D "One thing that seems clear is the Saints dicked him around for 6 months and he seemed willing to stay , the relationship between him and the board runs a lot deeper than punters really think from the sounds of it. Coaches would be paranoid fulltime these days given what just happened to Rocket Eade after getting them so close." Well, Eade simply wasn't offered a contract extension so I don't think he's a particularly good example of the way clubs treat coaches. But no doubt that coaches are paranoid. They always have been. As the saying goes; there are two types of coaches, those who have been sacked and those whom are about to.
me too
Guest
and this somehow justifies lyon's actions? all it shows is that the media play favourites. lyon is no favourite outside his clique of walls and roos, and thus had the blowtorch applied - as it should be. though if you had thought to do a bit of research, rather than go of on a misreading of the situation, and a ridiculous exaggeration of the possible consequences of ross taking the grown up alternative to deceiving all those around him, you may well find many in the media DID criticise the essendon coup. but that wouldn't suit your argument.