It was a fairly bright start to the season for the Fremantle Dockers, winning a spirited game against last year’s premiers in front of a packed Subiaco crowd.
While there was still some disquiet about the method by which Mark Harvey had been deposed and Ross Lyon brought in, there a cautious belief that if Lyon bought success to the club he would at least find acceptance.
What has been obvious to the Fremantle fan is the transformation in playing style that Lyon has quickly implemented. Most commentators declaring it St Kilda-like. However, the past few weeks, and in particular the past weekend, have highlighted a grace deficiency in Lyons coaching understanding.
While St Kilda has players developed and available with the skill to implement a closed in, defensive playbook, Fremantles players are not of the same skill set and Lyon has shown little understanding of his own team.
In fact, he admitted as much when he made it clear that in his years at St Kilda he spend little time examining the Dockers players as opposition coach.
Furthermore, the wide open plains at Patterson Stadium are in stark contract to the confinement of Etihad. Is it surprising then that the Dockers most satisfying win of this season came against the Saints, in Melbourne, at the only AFL stadium with a roof.
Despite our dominant ruckman in Sandilands helping us to be ranked first in hitouts per game, Sunday’s derby saw Fremantle post their lowest score ever at Pattersons Stadium.
Against a fired up West Coast, Fremantle were unable to sustain the pressure which saw them head into half-time with scores level at 20 points each, despite West Coast having double the scoring shots at that time.
John Worsfold understands his players, and has implemented a game plane which suits their style, as clearly demonstrated on Sunday.
Earlier in the year the Fremantle’s CEO Steve Rosich said, “Ross can deliver a consistent and successful playing style.”
As with many of the other changes Rosich has implemented at the club, Lyons’ appointment, but more particularly Harveys sacking, has not been greeted by the club faithful with any enthusiasm.
Lyon’s ugly brand of football is clearly restrictive to the opposition, but with Fremantle now losing their past two games by significant margins, it is clear that Lyon has not grasped or understood the playing stock at his disposal.
Alex Silvangi is one stark example. Fremantle members have been calling for his recall, and at Sunday’s derby when he finally got his chance, he was one of a few Dockers players who could hold his head high.
The experiment with Ballyntyne in the midfield has also been perplexing. The livewire goalsneak proved his worth in the opening game against Geelong, where he basically was the difference in the two sides.
Lyon’s desire to keep him in the midfield is perplexing in a side which looks to have no functioning forward line.
It is obvious to me that unless Lyon understands, and quickly, what sort of players he has available, and is able to adapt his playing style to it, the Dockers are in for another short and disappointing season.
GrantS
Guest
Dockersfan I am not trying to be disrespectful to your club but the team Lyons had at St Kilda was far superior to the team he now has at Freo. He couldn't WIN a Grand Final with his tactics with that team and I sincerely doubt he will do it with this one. I personally thought that the Dockers were improving every week under Harvey. I also thought they played an exciting brand of football compared with the crap we saw last week.
NeeDeep
Roar Pro
Firstly, Greg - totally agree! Ross Lyon comes across as a "downhill skier". He's fine while it's all going his way and at the first sign of a bend, he's outta there! The big laugh is that he's deifnately bitten of more than he can chew at Freo. I also love how everyone describes it as a "St.Kilda" style game plan. Strangley before it became a "St. Kilda" style, it was a "Sydney" style game plan.Guess who was Paul Roos' right hand man at Sydney??? So, perhaps we should cut to the chase and name the crime after the common denominator - the man always seen leaving the scene of the crime. The "Lyon" game plan - sounds right to me. Did he get it from Paul Roos, or did he develop it for Paul Roos and has now packed it up and taken it with him - who knows. I agree that Subi probably doesn't suit the Lyon game plan and perhaps the move towards "boutique" venues - Metricon, Skoda, etc. - may be the right move for Freo. Johno's suggestion of a 30,000 seat stadium at Freo makes a lot of sense and they could still play the bigger games / clubs at Subi, or the new ground @ Burswood, eventually. It won't happen while Ross is there, but down the track it has a lot of appeal. As "Bsc" simply put it - "Karma, Ross." I'd add the Freo board to that. You want to pinch somebody else's coach and sack a bloke who still had a contract - you get what you deserve. The young Freo side needs a little bit of polish and has a good group of kids coming through. They have an attacking flair and the pace that will allow them to swamp most sides when they get a run on. Are they suited to the Lyon game plan - not a chance. As young kids, a lot of them lack that little "extra" bit of discipline, required to hold the line, when everything is going wrong. The Saints (and Sydney before them) had that slightly older group of players, who could knuckle down and not deviate from the plan, even if the opposition got a little bit of a roll on and would fight their way back into a game. The young Freo players tend to drop their heads after they get 5 or 6 goals down and that's the game - over. Ross needs to give them their head and concentrate on developing belief and a consitent effort - surely he can do that! Freo will develop, but at the moment they lack that belief in themselves, each other and they lack an overall club culture that engenders success. Being a Saints supporter, we don't have a strong winning background either. But we have a Premiership (yes - just the one) and several night GF's, NAB Cups, Brownlow medallists and over time, Freo will have these things too. In the meantime, rather than trying to short-track this success and in doing so, lowering their moral and ethical standards and opening themselves up to ridicule, perhaps they should look to hold thier heads up high and be honourable about their future dealings and above all else, be patient. Very happy with Scott Watters and the way he's working with our young players, as well as the new lease of life he's injected into the older players and the club, itself!
Greg
Guest
We love Rosich at st kilda.
Mark E
Guest
No disagreements on the oval in Freo Johnno. Not going to happen with Rosich in charge, he is just as likely to move it to Subi, paint it blue and gold and insist all freo fans start singing 'were the Dockers, were flying high'
Nathan of Perth
Guest
/Richmond, though they are finally snapping that streak. (Hawthorn are gone this year, fuggeddaboutem)
Nathan of Perth
Guest
You have to admit, langou, everything wearing purple in that game was very difficult to watch. Btw, was it the Freo away bay doing the Ole Ole's?
Nathan of Perth
Guest
You really have to think Ross needs to adopt the game plan to the players rather then the other way around given the enormous difficulties in changing up rosters.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Just don't let him teach goalkicking.
Brewski
Roar Rookie
Well i have heard that this is all part of a long term plan by Lyon, get defence right first before concentrating on attack, but the sceptic in me says, how many long term plans do you hear about from coaches. The Dockers could have got watters for half the price.
dockersfan
Guest
So you really don't rate playing in consecutive grand finals? Besides, during 2009 the Saints averaged 100 points a game, were second in the league for most points and first in the league for points against. Yes their success was built around defence, but when they got it right (which they did for 19 games in a row) they swarmed in attack and demolished the entire competition.
Brewski
Roar Rookie
There really seems to be a growing vendetta by plenty of AFL fans, not just Dockers fans against Ross Lyon, is this really justified ?. I dont like his game plan, i dont think it suits the big Subi oval , or the skillfull footballers WA produces to suit our big dry grounds ?. Is Paul Roos really to blame for all this ultra flooding/zoning that he probably got from basketball.
Freo needs Suma
Guest
Freo won't win a flag till Sumich is coach. They need an Eagle to show them how its done. Suma was Woosha' roommate in the '90's and he was his #1 assistant coach for 10 years. Woosha is one of the best 2-3 coaches in the country. Hate Lyon's attitude and gameplan but love the way the Saints are playing under Watters, enough said!
Johnno
Guest
Need to build an elite home stadium for fremantle. A 30,000 seater right in Fremantle lets stop all this playing at subiaco at perth rubbish.
Johnno
Guest
Mark, love your work But You mention the wide expanses of subiaco, it is actually one of the narrowest afl venues, hence no cricket. It is the longest afl venue. The ground dimensions are conducive to the forward press (narrow) For some reason freo allowed themself to all fold back into defense and subsequently allow west coast to set up their vaunted press, combine that with shabby second half clearance work, result a second half inside 50 count of 34 to 7. That is the problem, what is the solution ?
Baldrick44
Roar Pro
I think the main point is whether Ross Lyon's strategy is still the be all and end all that it was 2-3 years ago. Football has taken another step forward offensively once again, and I'm not sure that Lyon's style gives his side the creative freedom it needs. Having said that, his record is exemplary and no doubt more will be made of this as the season goes on.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Actually, Neesham was an absolute breath of fresh air compared to Lyon - he was truly innovative.
Minz
Guest
As a long-term Dockers supporter, I just want to see them show some fight! Getting slaughtered by the Eagles... isn't it. Bring back Neesham! Yes, I'm joking, what else is a Dockers supporter to do?
langou
Roar Guru
I am also a Freo fan and happy with Ross Lyon. We have lost the past two games, however before that we were playing well. Five wins, two loses(both winnable games). Last year we lost by 90 points to Melbourne and 100 points to North Melbourne. In 2009 we kicked 1.7.13 vs Adelaide, yet none of those results have seen anywhere near the level of outrage that has been expressed this week. The football we played against Geelong, Carlton, Sydney, Port and St.kilda this year has been good to watch. We have had a couple of shockers but lets not overreact.
Bsc
Guest
Karma , Ross -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Sorry dockersfan - you need to start clamouring for Ross Lyon to be disbarred from coaching any AFL club - ever, starting with your own.