TonyK
CibbuanoWe are not getting carried away, says Lyon
July 20th 2008 02:52
ST KILDA has won four matches in a row but coach Ross Lyon admits there is still plenty of work ahead if his side is going to play finals football this season.
The Saints came from 28 points down at half-time to defeat Hawthorn by five goals at Telstra Dome on Saturday night to move to within half a game of fourth-placed Sydney with six rounds remaining.
St Kilda has winnable games against West Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle in the next month and could easily finish the home-and-away season in the top four.
But Lyon said his side was focused on qualifying for the finals and not a top-four finish.
"It was a critical result ... all it means is we stay in the hunt to force our way into the eight if we keep winning, but it was a pleasing effort from the group against quality opposition," he said.
"But there is no respite. We are pleased with the win, but we are not getting too carried away. They are all pretty important … we are in the hunt, but if you stop winning you are in trouble."
"It's a clear objective that we need to keep winning, but in the form we are in we are building confidence and we feel like we are getting the basics right more often."
St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt has played a major role in his side's revival over the past month and put in another dominant performance against the Hawks.
Riewoldt finished the match with 22 disposals, 10 marks and six goals and drew praise from Lyon for his leadership.
"His work rate enables him to always contribute to the team," he said.
"Sometimes that work rate will allow him to kick six and sometimes it will be three but you know it's always going to be there."
"He's a significant leader of this team, as is Lenny Hayes, and from there everybody jumps in behind them."
"Leadership is everyone's responsibility, but really, you appoint a captain for a reason and you appoint a vice-captain for a reason because when you're under pressure like we were in the first half you want them to stand up and lead the way and I thought they did that."
The Saints came from 28 points down at half-time to defeat Hawthorn by five goals at Telstra Dome on Saturday night to move to within half a game of fourth-placed Sydney with six rounds remaining.
St Kilda has winnable games against West Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle in the next month and could easily finish the home-and-away season in the top four.
But Lyon said his side was focused on qualifying for the finals and not a top-four finish.
"It was a critical result ... all it means is we stay in the hunt to force our way into the eight if we keep winning, but it was a pleasing effort from the group against quality opposition," he said.
"But there is no respite. We are pleased with the win, but we are not getting too carried away. They are all pretty important … we are in the hunt, but if you stop winning you are in trouble."
"It's a clear objective that we need to keep winning, but in the form we are in we are building confidence and we feel like we are getting the basics right more often."
St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt has played a major role in his side's revival over the past month and put in another dominant performance against the Hawks.
Riewoldt finished the match with 22 disposals, 10 marks and six goals and drew praise from Lyon for his leadership.
"His work rate enables him to always contribute to the team," he said.
"Sometimes that work rate will allow him to kick six and sometimes it will be three but you know it's always going to be there."
"He's a significant leader of this team, as is Lenny Hayes, and from there everybody jumps in behind them."
"Leadership is everyone's responsibility, but really, you appoint a captain for a reason and you appoint a vice-captain for a reason because when you're under pressure like we were in the first half you want them to stand up and lead the way and I thought they did that."
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