TonyK
CibbuanoWe haven't earned back respect: Lyon
June 1st 2008 23:56
ST KILDA has not regained respect despite a 79-point demolition of Melbourne at Telstra Dome on Sunday, according to coach Ross Lyon.
The Saints currently occupy ninth place on the AFL ladder with a 5-5 win-loss record, just a half a game behind eighth-placed North Melbourne.
Lyon said it was important for the Saints to maintain the same level of intensity that they showed on Sunday for the rest of the season if they are going to match the best sides in the competition.
"You don't earn respect in a week, but we're in the hunt and next week we've got to play the Western Bulldogs who have lost one game, they are the form team of the competition and we'll clearly go in as underdogs, and they go in red-hot favourites," Lyon said.
"I was down there yesterday in Launceston and their contest and pressure against Hawthorn was outstanding, so we'll get a wake-up call pretty quick."
Lyon was pleased with his side's intensity and attack on the football on Sunday - the Saints won the tackle count 68-51 - but said he would have been disappointed if his players had not reacted after being labelled as "soft" following last week's 46-point loss to Brisbane.
"It was really a focus. Neil Craig spoke about AFL footy and the intensity and tackling has gone up, and we wanted to jump on board and I thought today we delivered that," Lyon said.
"They have been tackling 60-plus tackles and winning the contested ball so it was real challenge coming here today."
"I'm not sure if it (the win) changes anyone's view (of St Kilda) but I never lost faith in the playing group."
"I would have been disappointed if we didn't respond today and there would have been something drastically wrong if we didn't so it's a start."
The Saints currently occupy ninth place on the AFL ladder with a 5-5 win-loss record, just a half a game behind eighth-placed North Melbourne.
Lyon said it was important for the Saints to maintain the same level of intensity that they showed on Sunday for the rest of the season if they are going to match the best sides in the competition.
"You don't earn respect in a week, but we're in the hunt and next week we've got to play the Western Bulldogs who have lost one game, they are the form team of the competition and we'll clearly go in as underdogs, and they go in red-hot favourites," Lyon said.
"I was down there yesterday in Launceston and their contest and pressure against Hawthorn was outstanding, so we'll get a wake-up call pretty quick."
Lyon was pleased with his side's intensity and attack on the football on Sunday - the Saints won the tackle count 68-51 - but said he would have been disappointed if his players had not reacted after being labelled as "soft" following last week's 46-point loss to Brisbane.
"It was really a focus. Neil Craig spoke about AFL footy and the intensity and tackling has gone up, and we wanted to jump on board and I thought today we delivered that," Lyon said.
"They have been tackling 60-plus tackles and winning the contested ball so it was real challenge coming here today."
"I'm not sure if it (the win) changes anyone's view (of St Kilda) but I never lost faith in the playing group."
"I would have been disappointed if we didn't respond today and there would have been something drastically wrong if we didn't so it's a start."
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