Carlton coaching news: Lenny Hayes backs Lyon’s mooted comeback to coaching ranks

One of greatest and most fearless players to grace the game has endorsed Ross Lyon’s possible return to the coaching ranks, claiming he was a master motivator.

Ross Lyon is excited at the prospect of returning to coaching. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes has endorsed Ross Lyon’s comeback to senior coaching, saying the former Saints and Dockers’ boss was a master motivator.

Lyon is the frontrunner to replace David Teague following confirmation ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is not a contender.

Hayes, who is one of the Saints’ greatest midfielders in modern history, said his ability to forge strong bonds with his troops were a clear strength.

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“Early days I was very impressed with his tactical nous and how well he knew the game, but I think the area he got better at the longer he coached was his man management skills were very good,” Hayes told News Corp.

“He had a relationship with most guys on the list and it didn’t matter whether you were the leading goal kicker, or Nick Riewoldt or whoever.

“He valued people’s roles within the team just as much whether you were a small forward pressure player like Andrew McQualter or Robert Eddy or the spearhead.

“So culturally he was very, very good for our group. He invests really deeply in the person.

“He demands high standards, and he was very big on leadership, so I think it would be great to see him back in a role.”

Ross Lyon has been backed by his legendary former St Kilda charge Lenny Hayes to take over at Carlton.

‘Ooh, I better google’: How Ross responded to Dee’s take-down

Melbourne’s Ed Langdon has reached out to Ross Lyon to downplay his “poorly-worded” comments about his demanding coaching style.

Langdon raised eyebrows on Saturday night when he said he had never seen Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin raise his voice compared to some of the sprays he received from Lyon at Fremantle.

“Coming from Freo where you don’t look Ross in the eye in a meeting and he starts yelling at you, it’s a nice change,” Langdon said on AFL Nation.

Ross Lyon addresses his players when coaching Fremantle. Picture: Michael Klein

The comments caused a stir on social media as Carlton zero in on Lyon for the club’s vacant coaching job. The Blues’ process is expected to ramp up quickly this week.

Langdon text messaged Lyon on Sunday morning to downplay the comments, saying he got muddled up in a post-game radio interview.

“(It said) Hey Ross, I’m not sure whether you saw the comment I made after the game, but they were take completely out of context and poorly-worded on my behalf,” Lyon said on Triple M.

“You know I have got nothing but love and respect for you and your family.

“I thought ‘Ooh, I better google, so I googled it.

“If it was legitimate, and that is what he meant and it was all seriousness, then I’m on a journey of growth and have growth mindset and I would take the feedback.

Ed Langdon had some choice words on Ross Lyon after the Demons win over Brisbane, but he moved to clarify them. Picture: Getty Images

“When you are having meetings, it might be a quarter time huddle, you have got 22 grown men and you are probably boring then and you might think it is really important, but their eyes drift off.

“I know Ed, he is really dry. I’m not here to defend Ed or myself. Ed can speak for himself but that is the context.”

Lyon confirmed he was excited about the prospect of taking over the Carlton coaching job after a 45-minute conversation with Blues’ president Luke Sayers on Thursday night.

He said he had previously ruled out returning to coaching, but had shifted in his thinking recently and on Saturday spoke with his mentor, Sean Richardson, “who had helped create the model about pursuing excellence” on Saturday for 90 minutes.

Ross Lyon is excited at the prospect of returning to coaching. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

The former Fremantle and St Kilda coach said he had started to have “deeper dive conversations with trusted lieutenants”.

“It (coaching) wasn’t on my agenda (after departing Fremantle in 2019),” Lyon said.

“It (Carlton interest) has come to my front door, I haven’t gone out the front door searching for anything.

“I’m really happy to let the river flow here and see where I bob out of it.

“It is exciting to think about it and I’ve been on record about the reasons why there has been a fair bit of a shift (in his thinking).

“But there is a long way to go in the process, I certainly respect the process. It is exciting to be in the conversation of an AFL club.

“But it is not something you can do half-baked.”

Ed Langdon has revealed he didn’t enjoy playing under Ross Lyon when with Fremantle.

Former Docker’s stunning take-down of Lyon

—Catherine Healey

Former Fremantle midfielder Ed Langdon has given Carlton plenty to think about after revealing he didn’t enjoy playing under Ross Lyon.

Langdon helped his new club Melbourne secure a preliminary final berth in the win over Brisbane on Saturday night.

Speaking to AFL Nation after the victory, Langdon revealed it had been a “nice change” to play under Demons coach Simon Goodwin.

“I’ve come from five years of the Ross Lyon method so it’s absolutely a nice change to have someone as cool, calm and collected as Simon Goodwin,” Langdon said.

“I don’t think I’ve heard him raise his voice once when he’s been at the club.

“Coming over from Freo when you don’t look Ross in the eye in a meeting and he starts yelling at you, it’s been a nice change.

“Goody (Goodwin) really backs me to play my role.

“That was a big reason why I came to the club.”

Langdon departed the Dockers after 68 games at the end of 2019; the same year Lyon was sacked with one round to go.

Lyon remains one of the frontrunners to take on the Carlton head coaching role after the Blues sacked David Teague this week.

Former Saints player Nick Dal Santo, who played five seasons under Lyon at St Kilda, said he was “surprised” to hear Langdon’s concerns.

“I think there’s a little bit of a perception he’s this heavy handed (coach) … he’s not that. He’s as supportive as a coach. He changed us and I’ll be forever grateful,” Dal Santo said.

“I don’t understand the context (of Langdon’s claims after) a brilliant performance tonight.

“I’m a little bit surprised that Ed Langdon felt that way. That was never my experience or rarely my experience with Ross.

“I think it’s fair to say Ed Langdon won’t get a trade to Carlton.”

Ross Lyon has been tipped to take the Blues back to finals.

‘Winx’-like Lyon tipped to revolutionise Blues

Former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has been strongly backed to deliver the cultural change, player development and strategic edge required to lift Carlton out of the AFL doldrums.

Lyon has firmed as the frontrunner to take over from David Teague following confirmation he spoke with Carlton president Luke Sayers about the role for 45 minutes on Thursday night.

It comes as former Fremantle president Steve Harris and ex Saints and Dockers’ assistant coach Anthony Rock gave Lyon the strongest possible endorsement, saying he was one of the “sharpest minds” in the game and “a perfect fit” for the Blues.

Harris, who poached Lyon from St Kilda to take over at Fremantle in 2011, said the man who coached the Dockers to a Grand Final in his fourth season in 2015 was “an exceptional individual”

“Him not coaching (in the AFL) is like keeping Winx in the stable,” Harris told News Corp.

“He has got the x-factor. He makes exponential change and I can only speak for my time at Fremantle, but he took a good list with some exceptional individuals and his commitment to cultural change, his demanding ethos and the way he works with people got us to a Grand Final.

“He can look at an individual, see inside that individual and just know how to motivate them. He knows what works.

“The other thing you may see is the hard-arse exterior, but the reality is he has got a big heart and he really cares.”

Former Fremantle president Steve Harris.

Harris said Lyon’s incredible work ethic often meant he would have watched the replay of Fremantle night games twice by noon the following day.

“We did a lot of travelling together and after a night game, I would go to the gym at 7am the next morning and he was often on the treadmill already watching the replay for a second time,” Harris said.

“He is obsessive about delivering high quality work.”

Lyon is a red-hot favourite to return to coaching with the Blues.

Lyon, 54, has worked in the media and in property during his two-year break from coaching.

Rock, who was one of Lyon’s right-hand men at St Kilda and Fremantle, said Lyon was a tactical genius inside the coaching box and extremely close with the playing group.

“His ability on game day is second to none, he is clearly the best coach that I have worked with and learned from,” Rock said.

“But his ability to build relationships with players is first class. The players love him.

“Yes he can be a hard task master, but if you train hard and work hard he will back you to the hilt. He knows the secret to success.

“I joined him at Fremantle when the list was turning over so there has been a hell of a lot of development that has gone into the club pre-Justin Longmuir.”

Lyon has reached Grand finals with St Kilda and Fremantle.

Rock said Lyon had developed his leadership style over his coaching career and was ideal for Carlton after eight years out of the finals.

“He has worked really hard on the way he manages people and I noticed that difference in my time at Fremantle,” Rock said.

“There has been lots of strong conversations (with him) because he likes people who stand up for themselves.

“He wants you to challenge him. He doesn’t want people just to sit there. He wants you to contribute and speak up.

“He wants people to be open and honest and to communicate, but his management style has improved immensely from when I first was a young coach at St Kilda to now.”

IS BLUES BOARD SPLIT OVER LYON INVESTIGATION?

Stephen Drill

Carlton has insisted it will do its “due diligence” following reports Ross Lyon was out of favour because of an AFL integrity unit investigation during his time at Fremantle.

Lyon had been considered favourite for the Carlton job if Alastair Clarkson passed up the opportunity.

But reports surfaced this week that the board was split over whether to appoint Lyon because of an incident involving a female staffer at the Dockers.

The staffer received a confidential payout, but the integrity unit did not sanction Lyon.

Carlton announced four new board members on Thursday alongside its decision to sack Teague, who had a year to run on his contract, and made the point that it was looking for “more experience coaching”.

Ross Lyon was investigated by the AFL integrity unit during his time at Fremantle. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle was asked if the probe into Lyon during his Dockers tenure would put him out of calculations for the coaching position.

“I am not sure what you are referring to around a smear campaign,” Liddle said.

“All I can suggest is this club will find no stone unturned to go out there and find the very best coach.

“Part of that process is doing due diligence on every single person in the process.”

There were several reports this week that the Blues’ board was split over Lyon because of concerns about an investigation involving behaviour towards a female staffer at Fremantle.

Lyon took Fremantle and St Kilda to grand finals and has been lauded for his football knowledge.

However, he was the subject of an AFL integrity unit investigation in 2018.

Dale Alcock, Fremantle board member, apologised to the female employee at a press conference that year who made a complaint.

“I apologise to our former employee who is the subject of the matter currently in the media,” Mr Alcock said at the time.

“I’m sorry for the stress and duress this matter, and subsequent media attention, has caused her and the people closest to her.”

Lyon was quizzed about the reports on Footy Classified on Wednesday but said he could not discuss the matter involving the former Docker staffer.

“I’m disappointed at the timing of it as my name gets bandied about,” Lyon said.

“The duress and the hurt that a lot of parties were feeling I felt terrible about.

“There was a respectful and confidential resolution reached and designed to protect all parties.”

Lyon said the incident was “something that I’ve carried with me, that I’m aware of and that I’m sensitive to.”

“I’m aware as I stepped foot back in that it would be raised,” he said.

“I’m restrained in that it’s been two and a half years, It needs to stop here.

“I’ve worked hard for a long time to earn a reputation, I’ll protect that reputation.”

Carlton was one of the first club’s in the AFL to get an AFLW licence, and it plays in orange socks each year to promote gender equality.

Lyon hits out at ‘smear campaign’ as Blues hunt new coach

Former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says he will fight to protect his reputation against a “smear campaign” being levelled against him.

Lyon has emerged as the frontrunner to replace besieged Carlton coach David Teague after the Blues parted ways with Teague.

In recent days there have been unconfirmed reports a personal matter involving a former Fremantle employee and Lyon from several years ago had turned the Blues off Lyon.

Ross Lyon has emerged as a frontrunner for the Blues job if David Teague leaves.

The AFL Integrity Unit cleared Lyon without sanction following a full investigation.

It came on top of claims Carlton target Adam Cerra was not keen to reunite with his old coach.

But Lyon hit back at the reports on Wednesday night, saying he was disappointed at the timing of the claims.

“My experience (with Cerra) was really positive, but I don’t really want to vindicate the (reports). I think it is part of the smear campaign, to be honest,” Lyon said on Channel 9.

“You can speak to Adam, but Adam used to come over for dinner and when I got sacked, he and Andy Brayshaw brought flowers over.

“I’ve never raised my voice at Adam, he played 43 or 44 games, and it (innuendo) doesn’t really interest me.

Lyon spent eight seasons at the Dockers.

“I would be surprised even if he (Cerra) has even spoken to Carlton (about Lyon).”

Lyon said he would be happy to go through a coaching process at Carlton if he received an approach.

Lyon said he could not discuss the matter involving the former Docker staffer.

“I’m disappointed at the timing of it (the reports),” Lyon said.

“The duress and the hurt that a lot of parties were feeling I feel terrible about.

“There was a respectful and confidential resolution reached and designed to protect all parties.”

Originally published as Carlton coaching news: Lenny Hayes backs Lyon’s mooted comeback to coaching ranks