Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for September, 2011
I was broke, says new Freo coach
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
New Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has revealed he took St Kilda to the 2009 grand final as he battled extreme stress in the face of financial ruin.
Lyon confirmed this week that he had lost a significant seven-figure sum in a month in failed investments in an Australian mining company at the height of the global financial crisis, just as he was preparing for the 2009 season.
He and his wife Kirsten, who had recently given birth to their now three-year-old son Jai, sold their family properties and moved back into his father Maurie’s home in the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir for six months.
The property was about an 80km round trip to St Kilda’s club base at Moorabbin. While Lyon said his tenure at St Kilda in the past two seasons had enabled him to forge a significantly more stable financial position, he believed his past dire situation had better equipped him with the tools to handle the stresses of coaching an AFL team.
Gardiner sees great things for Dockers
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Retiring All-Australian Michael Gardiner has predicted Ross Lyon will do great things with the Fremantle list – starting with more demands on Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands to improve their leadership.
Lyon stunned St Kilda, and the rest of the AFL, by walking out on the 2009 and 2010 grand finalists to take up the senior job at the Dockers, which was unwillingly vacated by Mark Harvey.
Lyon began work in the west on Wednesday, having revealed financial worries and job security were a big consideration in his taking the job.
Saints, Dockers opener
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
The AFL’s fixturing team has responded to Ross Lyon’s move to Fremantle by attempting to move the Dockers’ 2012 round one clash against St Kilda from Perth to Melbourne.
AFL senior executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed the league had coincidentally fixtured Lyon’s old club against his new side in its draft plans for the opening round of next season but that it would now work to shift the game from Subiaco to Etihad Stadium.
”In my view, you need to have the game in Melbourne,” McLachlan told The Age.
No place for normal under Lyon regime
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
New Fremantle boss Ross Lyon goes head-to-head with Steve Butler on where the Dockers need to improve, what he thinks of the players and why they can play finals in 2012.
SB: What are the most important things in life for Ross Lyon?
RL: My primary purpose is to be involved in my family and take care of them, that’s really important. I just try to make good choices for my wife Kirsten and my kids and my primary purpose is to give them a good opportunity in life. I’ve got a tight circle of friends within football and outside of football who I trust. You talk about building trust in the football team and trust is fundamental to any human relationship. Once you lose that trust, it’s the end of the relationship – that applies to your family, your football club and your mates. As a player, I was up and down in my application, but certainly over the years I’ve developed a work ethic. What I stand for now, personally and from what I’ve learnt, is about players taking the risk. Don’t leave it to somebody else. Give a great effort, we talk about extraordinary effort, to pursue what you want.
Road to ruin: Lyon confirms money woes, says he has ‘great empathy’ for Harvey
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon faced financial ruin, losing a seven-figure sum in a single month during the global financial crisis, in an admission that has shed further light on his reasons for leaving St Kilda.
In a wide-ranging interview with the West Australian, Lyon said investments in an Australian mining company failed during the early months of 2009 – the same year he took the Saints to a grand final.
Shortly after the birth of his third child, Lyon and his wife Kirsten had to sell their properties and move into his father Maurie’s Reservoir home for six months.
‘‘It was pretty significant. I didn’t tell anyone but my closest friends,’’ Lyon told the newspaper. ‘‘I just dug in with my wife Kirsten and we coped.
Outgoing Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett lauds Fremantle over Ross Lyon deal
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Outgoing Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says Fremantle should be congratulated for its clinical execution of the Ross Lyon defection.
“I think it was a wonderfully played out exercise,” Kennett said.
“I loved the clinical nature of it, and I loved the fact that none of the media got a sniff of it.”
Asked how he would have felt if Hawthorn had lost coach Alastair Clarkson to similar circumstances, Kennett replied: “That would have been our fault if we were the victim of a coup and we wanted to keep someone.
No instant fix under Lyon
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
Former Sydney coach Paul Roos has warned Fremantle to be cautious with immediate expectations under new coach Ross Lyon, claiming it is likely to take at least two pre-seasons for him to implement his game plan.
Roos, one of Lyon’s closest confidants, also criticised those who attacked his former teammate and assistant coach’s integrity over the sacking of Mark Harvey.
The 2005 Sydney premiership coach said he spoke to Lyon at least weekly and considered his position at St Kilda had become untenable, hinting at key relationship breakdowns. Lyon’s snap decision to leave had been done to the letter of his contract.
Roos said Dockers players could expect to have to embrace a rigid game structure for next season.
Loyal subject
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in Miscellaneous
“We are all in the same boat, in a strong sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty,” said English writer G.K. Chesterton.
I know Chesterton was talking about the wider world and humanity when he made it, even family, with no thought of ever having it applied to sport, let alone a game he would never have heard of.
But you know, sport still relies on ‘loyalty’. Loyalty of fans for their team, sponsors of clubs, coaches to players and players to coaches.
But loyalty is, or can be, a fragile thing in modern day sport and, in fact, modern day society.
Most people will be loyal to themselves which is natural and arguably right, particular as being loyal so often relates to their family and their livelihood.
Was Adelaide loyal to Neil Craig, Melbourne to Dean Bailey, Western Bulldogs to Rodney Eade, and Fremantle to Mark Harvey? No, if sacking someone is seen as an act of disloyalty.
Docker TV Exclusive – Wednesday AM
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
Make sure you check out Docker TV tomorrow morning to watch an exclusive interview with new Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon at his Templestowe home in Melbourne.
Lyon speaks candidly to The West’s Steve Butler about family, football and life in general.
It’s a fascinating insight into Fremantle’s new senior coach that should not be missed.
The hard work continues
013 years
by DockerNow.com
in News
The hard work and dedication required to play AFL football continues for the Fremantle Dockers, despite the playing squad currently being on annual leave.
Fremantle Sports Science manager Jason Weber said all players were tested for anthropometrics (lean muscle mass and fat) and a variety of athletic parameters in the week after the club’s last game in round 24.
“Using that data and previous information each player is given specific targets that they must maintain during the break,” Weber said
“All players are provided with programs that are aimed at having them prepared for what they are required to do on day one back at the club.”
Weber said experienced players like Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands have a lighter load as compared to a younger player like Jayden Pitt.
“Pav and Spider are both lined up for a longer regeneration period,” he said.
