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Fill-in St Kilda captain Callum Wilkie denies Ross Lyon needed to stamp out a ingesting tradition when he returned to the Saints, however says the brand new coach’s excessive requirements have lifted them to their 4-0 begin.
Former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd claimed final week Lyon had instantly mounted a ingesting tradition on his return, suggesting gamers would problem teammates who didn’t need to drink.
Wilkie admitted the group favored a drink however denied it was to a problematic stage.
“I am desirous about Lloydy’s take, I’ve solely been there for 4 years … I suppose I am fairly new to being within the AFL,” he informed Fox Footy.
“We wish to get collectively and have a drink when it is acceptable, guidelines weren’t actually damaged that we set as a enjoying group.
“We maintain ourselves to a excessive account and if somebody did break a rule, which all the time occurs now and again, we would come down laborious on them.
“Requirements have lifted when it comes to that space, however I did not assume we had (a ingesting tradition).
Wilkie, who’s main the Saints after captain Jack Steele broke his collarbone, mentioned on-field requirements had been the larger development space with inconsistency costing them within the again half of 2022.
The Saints gained three of their final 11 video games to hunch from their promising 8-3 begin to miss finals, culminating in former coach Brett Ratten’s sacking and finally Lyon’s return.
“Final yr we began off very nicely … however we would simply have lapses all through video games, week-to-week, we simply wanted to seek out that constant kind,” Wilkie mentioned.
“He is added his method, his spin, his system … however there was a motive we had been 8-3, it wasn’t by pure luck.
“He undoubtedly took a chunk of that … we have seen it flourish within the first 4 rounds.”
Lyon left St Kilda in 2011 for an eight-year stint as Fremantle coach, earlier than heading again to Moorabbin to as soon as once more lead the Saints.
Wilkie mentioned he’d “demanded excellence” from the second he walked within the doorways – precisely what he thinks the membership wanted.
“He is received this aura about him, he walks in and everybody sits up straight, shoulders again, listems, and he calls for excellence from the get-go,” he mentioned.
“Any small factor he sees that is out of order, he’ll stamp it out proper there.
“It is what we wanted as a gaggle of boys.”
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