TonyK
CibbuanoHayes almost missed
September 13th 2008 21:51
ST KILDA came within seconds of going into Saturday night’s cut-throat semi-final against Collingwood at the MCG without midfielder Lenny Hayes, according to coach Ross Lyon.
Lyon said Hayes went into 'severe spasm' after warming up and emergency Shane Birss was told that he would be playing before Hayes was declared fit to start literally minutes from the opening bounce.
"There was no subterfuge, there was no intention to deceive - it was a legitimate stressful situation and Lenny virtually wasn't going to play," Lyon said.
"I was in the box and I said 'Birssy, you're playing'."
"Birss was going to start on-ball, that's how late it happened and how serious it was."
Hayes collected 22 possessions in the Saints’ 34-point win which sees them progress through to a preliminary final against Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday night.
Fellow midfielder Luke Ball, who has been sidelined since tearing a hamstring against Port Adelaide in round 18, was a late withdrawal from the clash against the Pies.
Ball will have missed seven weeks of football by the time the Saints face the Hawks but Lyon said the 24-year-old's extended stint on the sidelines wouldn't prevent him from being selected.
"A Luke Ball in five and six minute bursts would be pretty hard to contain, I would imagine," Lyon said.
Meanwhile, veteran forward Fraser Gehrig has confirmed that this season will be his last.
Gehrig was re-drafted by the Saints in last year’s national draft but hasn’t played since round eight because of his arthritic hands.
Lyon said Hayes went into 'severe spasm' after warming up and emergency Shane Birss was told that he would be playing before Hayes was declared fit to start literally minutes from the opening bounce.
"There was no subterfuge, there was no intention to deceive - it was a legitimate stressful situation and Lenny virtually wasn't going to play," Lyon said.
"I was in the box and I said 'Birssy, you're playing'."
"Birss was going to start on-ball, that's how late it happened and how serious it was."
Hayes collected 22 possessions in the Saints’ 34-point win which sees them progress through to a preliminary final against Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday night.
Fellow midfielder Luke Ball, who has been sidelined since tearing a hamstring against Port Adelaide in round 18, was a late withdrawal from the clash against the Pies.
Ball will have missed seven weeks of football by the time the Saints face the Hawks but Lyon said the 24-year-old's extended stint on the sidelines wouldn't prevent him from being selected.
"A Luke Ball in five and six minute bursts would be pretty hard to contain, I would imagine," Lyon said.
Meanwhile, veteran forward Fraser Gehrig has confirmed that this season will be his last.
Gehrig was re-drafted by the Saints in last year’s national draft but hasn’t played since round eight because of his arthritic hands.
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