AFL 2024: St Kilda positive about game style, says Liam Henry

A St Kilda speedster believes the side can turn its season around by sticking harder to Ross Lyon’s rigid defensive system.

St Kilda lost to Brisbane by 20 points before its round 15 bye but the club is taking heart from its ability to score more than 100 points at the Gabba. Picture: Russell Freeman / Getty Images

St Kilda playmaker Liam Henry says his teammates are confident they can turn their fortunes around after a frustrating 5-9 start to the season.

The new recruit said the Saints were focused on delivering on coach Ross Lyon’s defensive demands as he blamed a breakdown in team defence for the side’s low scoring in the first half of the season.

Despite entering the bye off a 20-point defeat to Brisbane, Henry said the Saints’ ability to score more than 100 points had left them confident they had the attacking weapons to win games in the second half of the season.

“I think the vibe coming back from the bye has been really good,” Henry said.

“We’ve got really good coaches that have given really clear focuses we’ve got to work on … we can score, we can score quickly.

Liam Henry (left) celebrates a goal with Brad Hill during St Kilda’s 20-point loss to Brisbane before its round 15 bye. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

“We’re trying to get that real good balance and at the moment our defence is letting us down, we’re allowing too many uncontested marks … so if we can tighten up on that and get more front-half turnovers, then we can score easily from there. Good offence starts from really good defence and that’s the style we’re trying to go with.”

Henry, 22, said he was pleased to see his former side Fremantle succeeding but said he was glad to have made the move to Melbourne where he was growing in confidence under Lyon.

“(The Dockers) have got a really good young team, but for me … I’ve always wanted to play in Melbourne and live the lifestyle and (to) play in front of 70, 80 thousand people at the ‘G is a dream come true.

“The difference for me was just my mental state. I’m just playing with a lot of freedom, running and using my strengths, just to be able to break the game.

“Ross is really into me on just continuing to play how you play but towards the system that he brings.”

St Kilda recruit Liam Henry says he’s enjoying Melbourne’s winter fashion after his move from Fremantle. Picture: Alex Coppel

The West Australian speedster covered a massive amount of territory over his week off, spending two nights in Perth before travelling north to Broome and then 400km inland to Fitzroy Crossing to visit his grandparents.

“I trained at a local team up there (in Broome), Cable Beach, and then went to Fitzroy … it was good to get back to the country and do some fishing,” he said.

“I connected with the mob up there which was pretty cool and got some sun and some nice beaches.”

Henry said he was enjoying his first Melbourne winter, which had been one of the things that had made him excited about his move.

“I love the fashion and the dressing up, extra clothes – you can’t really do that with shorts and a singlet back in Perth,” he said.

“Beanies, puffer jacket, I love that sort of stuff.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: St Kilda positive about game style, says Liam Henry