I’m always a little taken aback by how much people will ignore players’ own words when searching for a way to ascribe failing to Lyon’s instructions. Ryan’s actual words: “I’ve never really run off half-back before, and Lyon wanted me to work on it” somehow turns into “I used to run off half back, but then Lyon told me to stop it, but then he told me the opposite of that, so I guess I’ll work on that, whatever it is.”
I don’t expect current players to slag off their coach to the media, but you don’t have a long coaching career – and have almost all your ex-players speak highly of you - by consistently sending mixed messages and then throwing players under the bus. Even the players who aren’t fans of Lyon usually point out he is clear in his expectations. “Hard but fair” is how Ryan himself describes Lyon.
Our defence, and particularly our rebound from defence, was humming until about a third of the way through last season. We started to lose a bit more in the midfield at that time, and lost a few targets coming out of defence (we really missed the run of B Hill and Tabs marking presence deep at that time) and I thought the defence looked a little lost and hesitant. Towards the end of the season we looked a little better.
Ryan is a great intercept mark and seems to have a good footy brain, but when you are under the pump in defence it’s easy for players to go into their shell. It used to happen with Ibbo from time-to-time. When we were clicking, he’d move the ball quickly and confidently. When we weren’t he was a liability with ball in hand.
It’s a good sign Lyon is instructing his players to be more attacking. Personally, I’d just tell the backmen to get the ball to Wilson or S Hill (if fit), but I suppose if they aren’t around you could do worse than Ryan taking the game on. I’m hoping Logue can do the same.
I reckon last year you could be forgiven for not having confidence an option would present itself, but if in 2019 you have outlet options like B Hill and Langdon running through the middle, Fyfe dominating smaller midfielders in the air, and Hogan/Tabs/Lobb presenting options up the ground, there is no excuse not to take the game on as a backman.
