This column starts at an old-fashioned pie-night in 1981, Channel Seven’s Dorcas St studio in South Melbourne the venue. The event was a promotion for the grand final of the erstwhile mid-season night competition.
Carlton were in the final and their coach, David Parkin, was interviewed during the evening for the benefit of the assembled throng.
Perhaps imagining all present would have hoed into the free beer and pies, such as to have little memory of anything he might say, ‘Parko’ dropped one of his more candid gems.
Questioned about the importance of coaches, the eventual overseer of four premierships said he felt the previous three VFL flags had been won in spite, rather than because, of the coaches involved. It was a self-effacing remark because he was one of the relevant trio (with Hawthorn in 1978), along with Alex Jesaulenko (the last playing-coach to land a flag) and Richmond’s Tony Jewell.
That the question was asked at all indicates the issue of coaches’ worth was then on the radar. And the answer Parkin gave confirms the jury was very much out. To be fair, a couple of years after Carlton won the 1981 premiership, Mike Fitzpatrick told me a story about that grand final. Captain of the Blues, Fitzpatrick admitted trudging to the three-quarter-time huddle believing Collingwood had Carlton’s measure. Inspired by Parkin though, he came away convinced his team would win. Which they did.
Nevertheless, you get the point. Coaching wasn’t particularly scientific back then and we all wondered whether it was over-rated. Clearly that’s changed. Look at the impact of Luke Beveridge and Alastair Clarkson.
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So, when did amateur motivation, long on passion and intimidation but not so strong on manoeuvring the pieces on the board, turn professional?
Of course, it’s been an evolutionary process without one particular breakthrough moment. Len Smith is seen by many who followed him as the father of the next generation of coaches. His brother, Norm, became a legend. Norm’s protégé Ron Barassi, likewise. Tom Hafey preached new standards of fitness. Allan Jeans reinforced old-fashioned values. Kevin Sheedy challenged long-held orthodoxies. Parkin took individual player preparation and assessment to new levels.
Then there was Mick Malthouse, whose West Coast Eagles defended across the ground’s entirety like no team before them. Paul Roos later took that to another level and won a flag in Sydney.
Working alongside Roos at that time was Ross Lyon. I don’t think I’ve observed a more interesting coach than Lyon in close to 40 years covering this competition. I have not seen one – not one – who put his own stamp on a team, as visually identifiable as the goal-posts, as Lyon did at St Kilda.
The list Lyon inherited when first appointed was in apparent decline and he took time to find his feet. When he did, he created a unit like no other. A group with a core of champions but a shaky bottom end was inculcated in the concept of team defence. Lyon’s players talked of ‘Saints footy’.
In 2009, ‘Saints footy’ gave rise to an incredible season: 20 wins, 19 of them on the trot, with just two home-and-away defeats by margins of two and five points. The Saints ultimately suffered a heart-breaking, 12-point loss to Geelong in a thrilling grand final. The aggregate losing margin in their three defeats was, thus, 19 points (six of them after the final siren in the grand final). No other team in history has failed to win the flag off such a figure.
The most telling number of all, though, is in the ‘points against’ column: 1411. That’s the lowest-ever in the 22-game season. Opposing teams were trapped in ‘The Lyon Cage’.
If there was a knock on the coach, it was that he went full bore for a flag and didn’t prepare a list for the future. After the Saints slipped in 2011, Lyon was poached by Fremantle. In his second year there, he took the Dockers to a grand final in which they stretched Hawthorn but eventually succumbed. For four straight seasons, they finished top six and among the two lowest ‘points against’ teams in the competition.
But, as at St Kilda, Lyon came up without a flag and with a fading list.
Last year, the Dockers lost Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands for much of the season, while a 35-year-old Matthew Pavlich was limping to the line. They plunged to 16th and were forced into a clean-out. The new season has started abysmally.
While in 1981 we pondered whether coaches really mattered, today we know they’re critical. Ross Lyon has shown himself, in the last decade, to be with the best. Not so long ago, it seemed his method would ensure the competitiveness of any group he coached. In this game though, lists age and strategies move fast.
While Lyon is in the fortunate position of having a long-term contract, it doesn’t alter the fact that he’s now facing his greatest challenge.
He’s established a fine reputation, but now must go to places he hasn’t previously ventured if that’s to be sustained.
Barnburners
Guest
I honestly think Ross believed he had the ongoing personnel to advance this year together with the players returning from injury. Should there not have been the two hidings to the start of the year he would have persisted with the same group of trusted players. It will be interesting tonight at the selection table how fast and deep the transition to playing the inexperienced younger group will venture.
Kane
Guest
Gee these Docker boy's love hangin it on every other club but don't like an accurate argument about their own.
Don Freo
Guest
92 in 3 games. Freo's future is very exciting. Get excited by Logue too. He is coming on very fast. He may well be a 193cm midfielder rather than a key position player. Why? Because that's the way he plays and Brennan Cox is coming on big time as well at CHF/CHB so we can release The Griffin. Add them to Alex Pearce and Michael Apeness and...WOW!!! I can see Fyfey breaking Pav's captaincy record.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Apparently he's the WAFL leader for disposals thus far this season..?
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
My comment was purely one of surprise, not one of attack :) That's certainly interesting, and I wasn't aware of the connection - my mistake! I wish I still lived in Perth, I'd love to be attending games more regularly.
GJ
Guest
Hope it was beer
Don Freo
Guest
Freo has been an absolute delight to watch under Ross. Opinions, Hey?
Don Freo
Guest
Balic will be good value for Rising Star this year. Remember he was Freo's first draft pick last year but missed the season with a hand injury. Came back for the WAFL finals and starred in his first senior hit outs. When you watch him play, you'll recognise he would have played AFL all last season if he was available. Averaging over 30 possessions in the first 3 WAFL games this season. An absolute natural and very tough. I would have loved to have seen him go muscle for muscle with SP-P last week.
Don Freo
Guest
It will make no sense to have multiple changes...that is...as many as there could be. That would have an even more destabilizing effect than no changes. I expect to see Collins, Balic and Hughes in. Logue will be named in the squad but probably won't play yet. I would like to see Taberner in for Kersten. Sutcliffe, Suban and either Ibbotson or Dawson should go back to Peel. Not too many at once. Freo will have a 7-5 or 6-6 ledger by the mid-season break.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Please, not the straw man e-word, but sarcastic? Yeah, of course...look admittedly I was a bit rushed for time right then and that it jumped out first as a wonky comparison and I was going to write a bit more but had more pressing priorities.
GJ
Guest
So again, lets go back to your original post .. "SANFL? Really?" If you thought his post was overly simplistic why not offer an alternative opinion then. Why post what could be easily perceived as a sarcastic or elitist response?
GJ
Guest
No .. all he is saying is he does not believe that Ross Lyon is a successful coach, using premierships as a measurement of success. So using that measurement Luke Beveridge, Alistair Clarkson, Chris Scott, Mark Thompson, Mick Malthouse, John Longmire, Paul Roos, John Worsfold would be considered successful coaches in recent times. I am not talking about the validity of his post. Just the content provided.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Sure that's your opinion (big ups for you fella on having an opinion) on the validity of his comment, mine is different. I'm sure Ross Lyon would ultimately see his job as winning premierships. But to say the only success is winning premierships is a bit unrealistic and over simplistic approach, not everyone is going to be in a position for the coaching skills to play out on even terms. That's my opinion. Sorry if you don't think it adds value, but after all that's your opinion ;) .
mattyb
Guest
Adelaide Dockers. This comment clearly says I don't barrack for Freo so yes I'm a doggies fan. I have also stated previous I'm a Fremantle member and I comment on Fremantle often,hopefully with some knowledge and a tiny bit of care for that club. I have been a member for over five years so it is hardly suddenly. My wife and 3 children all barrack for the Dockers as we live in Perth, apart from one brief period in Qld for work. I attend or watch all Freo games unless they clash with doggies games when I generally don't go. This is my choice,there is also no law suggesting you cannot be a member of the club you don't barrack for. I own no Fremantle clothing etc personally and draw a solid line there but when the boys kick a goal I clap and I say Carn the Dockers often. My laundry has both club flags hanging on the wall,the doggies one is mine. I'm a doggie from birth and was born in Victoria,these things don't change.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Must be the greatest forward in the game's history to average 25 possessions a game? How many goals did he kick in 2011?
GJ
Guest
OK DC .. I will try to explain it to you again. Wayne writes an opinion on Ross Lyon's coaching history. Wayne does not believe that Ross Lyon is a successful coach based on the fact that he has not won a premiership as an AFL coach. All Wayne did was use an example of a sporting clubs attitude during an incredibly successful period to support his opinion. In all honesty i doubt whether it would have mattered if it was a netball or cricket team that Wayne used as an example. Waynes opinion has nothing to do with where the success came from, purely the attitude to success. It really is that simple. As i mentioned earlier to Birdman, would it be more palatable to you if the statement came from Hawthorn? In reality it doesn't matter. He is making a statement about what he believes makes a successful coach. As for the fruit analogies, "how about you get back in the bowl you banana" You have added nothing of value to Wayne's initial comment, and nothing of value since
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Woah, I thought you were a Bulldogs fan. Now you're suddenly a Freo member? Gonna guess either your partner or someone in your family is a Freo fan..?
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
The article was literally titled "A captain without a contract"! .... a tad awkward for you, aye! Maybe I'll hold onto the bet for a bit longer...
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
I don't care if he is regarded as one of the greats; the teams he coach play ugly, boring, dirty football. Fremantle have been horrific to watch under Lyon.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
On that argument, I've got some elephant spray you can buy, guaranteed to work. I use it all the time and never seen an elephant around here.