Fremantle have dropped a bombshell this morning, sacking both coach Ross Lyon and CEO Steve Rosich despite both individuals having a year to run on their contracts.
Despite some fan unrest over Lyon’s position, there was little credible speculation about a coaching move being made at the Dockers, making today’s news an enormous surprise.
Fremantle had been in the thick of the finals race for most of the season, sitting as high as sixth on the ladder as late as Round 13 with a 7-5 record.
They were only eliminated from finals contention after Saturday night’s 32-point loss to Essendon and, just two weeks ago, had dominated minor premiership contenders Geelong by 34 points.
The loss to the Bombers was the Dockers seventh loss in nine games, however, and signified a fourth straight season out of the finals under Lyon’s watch.
It’s an eerily ironic end to Lyon’s tenure at Freo, after he controversially crossed from St Kilda in the 2011 offseason, blindsiding the Saints while also angering Dockers fans who felt previous coach Mark Harvey had been harshly dealt with.
He took the club to four consecutive finals appearances in his first four seasons, including three straight top-four finishes, a grand final loss to Hawthorn in 2013 and the 2015 minor premiership.
But the Dockers suffered a spectacular fall from grace after that ladder-topping campaign, dropping from 17 wins to four in 2016. The club finished with eight wins and almost identical percentages across 2017 and 2018, but fans had become restless by that point.
Despite losing star midfielder Lachie Neale to Brisbane in the offseason, Fremantle had already eclipsed their win total from the last two seasons and had improved their percentage by 18 points, making the timing of today’s announcement very peculiar.
He has been linked to a move back to Melbourne at various points throughout the season, while trade rumours surrounding several players may also suggest he lost the support of the list.
Lyon departs Fremantle as the longest-serving coach in club history, with 26 wins more than any other candidate, and is responsible for two thirds of the club’s finals appearances.
He also departs with the highest winning percentage as a coach in club history although, curiously, one more loss would have seen him surrender that title to Chris Connolly.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
^this, plus the development and use of the wingers (Bill and Ed) over the last two years.
shifty
Roar Rookie
Coulda woulda shoulda but didn't.
Minz
Guest
But he definitely had a premiership-quality game plan for a time - had his teams not choked in 2009, 2010 AND 2013, he'd have a flag. 2009 was stage fright from the best team, 2010 just needed a Saints player to chuck the ball on the boot in the closing stages and kick another famous point (never understood what they were doing trying to get the perfect chance there). And the Dockers should've kicked straight in 2013 (not to mention Sandilands being used as a jungle gym without any sanction from the umps...).
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You are judging on the basis of emotional disappointment. You will always pull the wrong rein that way.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
I love Ross Lyon for his language, "Bank the four points and move on" "Let the cobblers do the cobbling" "Sooner or later Scoreboard starts to dictate motivation" The Dennis Commetti of Coaches. And a lot of footy is just words so it's no mean feet. Beyond merely articulate like a Leigh Mathews Lyon is kind of a poet. I don't know how much is original but it came across that way. Maybe he could just step in for the press conferences. I think it's worth a little book.
anon
Roar Pro
Lyon's "success" at Fremantle almost entirely rests on the rise of Fyfe into a generational talent. This can't be understated. They are probably a 4 win team without him. He was the only reason they finished top of the ladder in 2015 (they were widely considered the worst minor premiers in the game's history such was how poor they were after the first 1/3rd of the season).
anon
Roar Pro
You've had one of the great players of all time in the middle for Lyon's duration and that player's best years have been utterly wasted. Last year, Lyon had two 2019 Brownlow Medallist favourites in the middle and still couldn't be competitive. Leaked 23 consecutive goals to Geelong in round 22. If you were missing Fyfe, Mundy, Walters, Brad Hill this year that would be an injury crisis. McCarthy outperformed Hogan this year. Your best forwards by a significant margin were Walters and Matera, not your talls.
anon
Roar Pro
2009, Western basically choked in the Prelim against St Kilda. That match could have gone either way. 2010, Saints scrape over the line in the QF against Geelong. Lose that and they likely don't even make the Grand Final. They won close one's to get to the Grand Finals to begin with. If we're going to hand out imaginary premierships, let's give Grant Thomas an imaginary Grand Final appearance in 2004. If the crowd doesn't invade and kill momentum, the Saints go on to win that match.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I judge my footy side on the on field performance Don. I understand that there was a need to move to Cockburn but I wouldn't say it qualifies as a stunning success until there is a Premiership Cup on the mantlepiece of The Steve Rosich memorial Elite Training Facility.
Johnno
Guest
Hi AD....as soon as Peter Bell’s contract as Footy Ops Manager was extended, this was going to happen.
Voice of Reason
Roar Rookie
And Sheppard
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don't think it would be a terrible idea, at least in the short term. Lyon's strength is adding a hard edge and discipline, which is what GWS is criticised for lacking. I do worry about what might happen to the list in a few years if they don't get that flag, though.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I'm not commenting on his ability to develop youth or adapt his game plan. He'll cop enough judgement on that. I'm explicitly referring to your 'bounce of a ball' comment, suggesting he was lucky to even make a GF. It doesn't hold any water, no matter how finals-ready the Saints and Dockers were when he took over.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I said a blues mate had good inside info on Lyon being offered the job. That might still turn out to be true when it all comes out .
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Of course it is a stunning success. Are you unaware of the benefits of that move? You have some strange understandings of how footy works. On field performance has been impacted by...guess what? Not buildings, just unavailable personnel. Fitness doesn't return just because you make another post. They are still injured.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Ever considered that Ross' poor player management may have lead to more injuries? Maybe he pushed the players too hard and was far too demanding at training that players broke down.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Has Fremantle been in the finals at all since the move to Cockburn? No, so I'm not sure it qualifies as a stunning success. We hear a lot about it being state of the art but has it in anyway helped the on field performance?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
The 48,000 turned up primarily to bid farewell to a couple of the club's favourite sons. The 33,000 they got 2 weeks prior is a more accurate reading of the situation. I think the board has made a really strong decision and I was impressed by Alcock today. It was clear that they weren't going to sign Ross on after 2020 so why wait until then? It would of been a wasted year treading water. Credit to Alcock, Bell and the board for having the foresight to make the decision. I was sceptical.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
For only 2 goals. Therein lies the problem.
MG
Roar Rookie
Could see this happening and suspect it could be good for GWS.