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"If I'm a Saints fan, I'm not copping that." | First Thoughts - Ross Lyon's comments
19 Apr 2026
Chapter 1: What are Ross Lyon's comments after the Saints' loss?
My first thoughts go to the Saints and Ross Lyons' media performance post that game. Here he is.
Yeah, so I think from where we're trying to get to, out of the bottom reaches or the middle or whatever you want to call it, I think five out of our first six opponents... they've all been finalists, prelim, back-to-back premiers and finalists by one, and we've been in all of those games, I would think if you take our win-loss, we've improved.
I'm not going to let him get away with that, Kingy, if you take out Wynlott. Now, it's not under 12s where they don't keep score. We actually keep score for a reason. And we all love the guy. Don't need to say it. I say that every time I'm going to give him some criticism. But Saints fans can't cop that. You can't cop, take out, win, loss, and we've improved.
And you can't reference last year to this year. Just because a team was good last year doesn't mean they're good this year. So they've beaten the Giants, who are 14th this year.
Chapter 2: How has the Saints' performance compared to previous seasons?
Not last year. The Giants by four points. They're 14th, the Giants. They won two games. They've beaten Port Adelaide. Don't worry about where Port Adelaide were last year. They're 12th this year. That's who you have beaten. You've lost to Brisbane, who are 9th. Adelaide who are 10th and Melbourne who are 8th. That's who you've lost to.
So I'm just not going to take out the scoreboard and we've improved. You copping that? Have they improved? No.
Chapter 3: Why can't Saints fans accept the excuse of improved performance?
They haven't improved. Well, Kingy, they've got a percentage of 92. They're 13th. Is that improvement? Well, it's very early to be... No, at this point of the season. I think they're playing a better brand of footy, yeah. That's not leading to improved performance on the ladder.
That's what he's saying. If you go with wins and loss, that's what you'll end up with. You'll end up talking about that. I think there's some truth in what he's saying. Now, how you get that across, you can argue... You can argue he's gone too aggressive at the journalists. You can argue that he is confrontational.
And you can just disagree with him, right?
Chapter 4: What metrics should fans consider for evaluating team improvement?
You can't take out the scoreboard, though. You can't. Like, they've got the 12th best percentage of any team. So if percentage is a good measure for, you know, if you want to take out wins and losses, some people use percentage to give you a good indication of where you're at. They've got the 12th best percentage. What did they have last year?
I'd have to look that up. Well, we're talking about improvement.
We've got to measure last year to this year. Well, it wouldn't have been a lot worse than 92%. I'm happy to look it up, but I can't imagine that their percentage was much more than... I could mount a case that they've improved.
I'm not here to defend Ross. 88.5. Their percentage... So they've improved 5%. Four.
Chapter 5: How does the current Saints team compare to other teams in the league?
Just under. Sorry, 4%. It's usually getting technical. Yeah. Yeah, I think there's some merit in what he's saying. He's talking to St Kilda fans. Those that want to go him are going to go him. He knows that.
So my message to St Kilda fans, they're far too forgiving. They just cop it because he's so good at that stuff and so good at changing narratives and getting you off the scent. If I'm a Saints fan, I'm not copping that. How come Melbourne can go and beat Brisbane? How does that happen? Melbourne can beat Brisbane. Why can't you?
Chapter 6: What is the significance of the Saints' percentage in the standings?
Melbourne can beat Brisbane. Why can't you?
Yeah. Well, come on.
You're not seriously doing that, are you? What do you mean? Well, Melbourne got beat by Essendon. So things change week to week in footy, mate, pretty drastically.
How can Melbourne get a scalp and the Saints can't? They got beaten by Essendon the week before. I know that, but they've also played some excellent... They've beaten Gold Coast as well. Why can they get a scalp with this team that is young, that didn't go and spend millions with their checkbooks in the off-season, that lost Petrarca and Oliver and May?
They can put some kids in, play some attacking footy and get some big scalps at the MC. Why can they do it?
Hmm.
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Chapter 7: Why do some fans feel too forgiving towards Ross Lyon?
I think you're too forgiving of Ross. Don't make it about me. Your question was, do you think the Saints have improved? I think they have improved. You can argue who they've played and where they are on the ladder, but after six weeks, to me, the ladder's only just starting to get real now. The Kangaroos are not a fifth best team in the comp, but on the ladder, it says they're fifth.
No. But I think it's fair and reasonable to say you should be beating those teams around you with the investment that you've made and where you're at on this journey with Ross Lyon as coach. You could have got one of Collingwood. You could have got one of Melbourne. You could have got one of Brisbane. You could have got one of Adelaide in a winning position. Agree with all that.
And I'm not copying that it's under 12s and we don't keep score is my point.