For all of you looking to the future, you're looking at it. As long as Lyon is coach, this is what you're going to get. It's the same football we've had since he came, he's had 5 seasons, it's not changed much, and regardless of personnel, it'll look exactly the same when most of the 2013 guys are gone.
The rebuild is bogus. It's a reshuffle, some new ins, and a tweak of his game style to allow for reduced rotations or anything else clubs needs to do to react to whatever restrictions the AFL apply each new season.
Dull, defensive, uncertain, turnover-riddled football, that bombs into either an empty or totally clogged forward line which relies on the skill and creativity of a bloke or two, like Ballas and Walters. Bodge it forwards anyway, anyhow, and try to create something from nothing. A better version of this sees you narrowly lose away from home against Geelong, when you coulda actually won the bloody thing. But it's still the same football, hoping to fall over the line on the right side.
Lyon plays football by numbers. He not interested in building a game around skill and smart, aggressive plays, takings risks and trusting players. It's ironic they've played some of their best footy when it's assumed he's let them do just that. If he hasn't and has been in full control in those games, why can't he and they dish up more of it? He has more experience than youth in the team.
No, his footy is about effort and conservative systems. In fairness, St Kilda play the same football, and a lot more teams currently are too. It's dull, colourless, invites mistakes and makes footy uninteresting and bland; a festival of forward line soap juggling to the Monster mash. The lucky bloke pops up with the pill and either has a crack or it gets cleared. Fantastic. Let's see that again. Won't have to wait long.
I'm not trying to convince anyone otherwise, those determined to be optimistic will latch onto young players doing well, and tell themselves everything will get better. I can't get fired up at a few young blokes having decent starts to their career, because the assumption is they will improve and eventually lift Fremantle to a power club – this is steve1's vision remember? That was the pup they sold us along with Lyon.
I bet it won't get better. I'm not going on what is expected to be a poor year, or a few close losses. If the Matthews' maxim of 50 games tells you everything you need to know about a player, how many seasons does a coach and his ass team get? I don't know what Leigh would say, but I reckon 5 years is plenty to see what you're going to get from Lyon (and Bond) – plus he's got form from his last club, which so far, he's pretty much replicated perfectly.
I'm not angry at the loss, but am I bored rigid and losing the will to want to watch them play. I'll change my view when I see real change. I don't see it with Lyon and Bond there. I'm also sad that some talented footballer's careers will be wasted while Lyon spins his wheels, and wheels out his spin.
