Latest news with #TheRoundSoFar
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFL news: St Kilda chief executive responds after Ross Lyon cops backlash over 'brutal' footage
St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena has defended coach Ross Lyon after describing eye-opening footage of his spray towards the playing group as akin to a parent disciplining their children. Fan footage emerged of Lyon ripping into his players on the St Kilda bench at quarter time, paying particular attention to Hugo Garcia. He subsequently benched the 19-year-old during the second quarter of Saturday night's 45-point loss to AFL premiers Brisbane. Critics such as AFL commentator Kate McCarthy and journalist Josh Gabelich described it as "brutal" treatment of a young player, with the former suggesting Lyon's angry tirade would have been better directed at a senior player, such as skipper Jack Steele. "He's pointed the finger at Hugo Garcia for not playing the 'stay forward' mid. But in the first quarter, Lachie Neale's direct opponent was Jack Steele - the captain of the club - and he allowed Neale to waltz into an open goal and kick the first goal of the game," McCarthy said on 'The Round So Far'. St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena has defended coach Ross Lyon after he was seen spraying Hugo Garcia on the bench during Saturday night's loss to Brisbane. Image: Getty/St Kilda TV "For me, if you're sending a message, it's a player like that you send a message through, not a 16-gamer who's still learning the ropes. If you don't want to play him or give him the opportunity to learn from his mistakes, don't play him... roasting a player on the bench before quarter-time and subbing him out in the second quarter is not going to help a player learn. It's going to send them the other way." Ross Lyon's spray for players divides AFL world Others, such as dual-premiership Kangaroos legend David King and St Kilda great Leigh Montagna defended the actions of Lyon and said he was right to be furious with the cheap manner in which his players were giving up possession of the footy. 'They just coughed up the ball far too easily - that's your main man in the midfield, Jack Steele, who I would give a spell to (in the VFL) if he's going to continue to do that sort of stuff,' King said on Fox Footy. Ross gives a shit and certainly hates losing. This is a long journey but this is the most animated he's been since he came back to Moorabbin. — Saints TV (@saintstvpod) April 26, 2025 'I think you need to make a statement; we've seen it around the league at the moment, and unfortunately for marquee players, it's worked. You can't just be nice Ross all the time. And I think selection is the ultimate leveller. You've got to make a statement as a team.' ADVERTISEMENT Montagna added: 'He (Lyon) gave the spray, he didn't get the response he wanted during the second quarter, so he had to make a statement. I don't necessarily agree that young Hugo Garcia was a scapegoat; (Lyon) just had to change something. He had to take someone off and try to mix it up. That was the way that he went.' St Kilda CEO defends Ross Lyon over angry tirade Fronting the media to discuss the issue on Monday, Saints CEO Dilena agreed that Lyon needed to show some tough love to his players, and denied suggestions he went too far after likening it to a parent lecturing his kids. "I'll just make a personal comment - I love that aspect," Dilena said. "Anyone who's been a parent and has dealt with kids, you can cuddle them and nurture them as much as you like, but occasionally there might be a couple of stern words that go in there as well. Ross is an experienced coach. He's just driven to get the absolute best out of our players and raise the standards of our club. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon directed an angry tirade at his players during the 45-point loss to AFL premiers Brisbane. Pic: Getty "He'd been very tolerant and been very cuddly for a while. For him to occasionally come out and just give someone a bake, I think that's good." The Saints rallied to get within 17 points in the third quarter, before defending premiers Brisbane ran over the top of them to inflict a third consecutive loss. ADVERTISEMENT "It's a bit of a bumpy road. We always knew it would be a bit up and down," Dilena added. "You don't have that sort of straight-line, linear progression towards improvement. And so you do go through moments, like we are at the moment, where it's a bit frustrating and you think we're not performing to what we should be doing. "Early in the season we had some great wins against Geelong and Port, and that really set the tone, but it also raises the expectations." St Kilda will hope to get their season back on track when they take on Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Friday. with AAP
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFL world divided after fan footage captures Ross Lyon in 'brutal' act
AFL commentator Kate McCarthy believes Ross Lyon should have directed a spray at a more senior player than Hugo Garcia after footage emerged of the St Kilda coach barking at the 16-gamer before subbing him out on Saturday night. Lyon is facing renewed scrutiny after the Saints' 45-point loss to Brisbane at Marvel Stadium. Lyon didn't hold back when talking to the players at quarter-time after the Lions racked up a whopping 24 inside-50s to six in the opening term. He then pulled the trigger early and took 19-year-old Garcia out of the game in the second quarter - a lot earlier than what we normally see. Fan footage has since emerged of Lyon giving Garcia and Ryan Byrnes an almighty spray on the St Kilda bench, paying particular attention to Garcia. Speaking in his press conference after the game, Lyon was unapologetic for taking Garcia out so early. "Sometimes you have to stop talking about it and sometimes you just go 'bang'," he said. "I pulled the sub, tried to get something done." Lyon denied 'spraying' his players, but said: "I was animated ... (the most) since I've been back at the club. AFL teams don't do this under pressure. I just coach action ... you can't read minds. We're talking top of the pops (Brisbane). Did I think coming here it was going to be a picnic? I wouldn't have thought so." Ross gives a shit and certainly hates losing. This is a long journey but this is the most animated he's been since he came back to Moorabbin. — Saints TV (@saintstvpod) April 26, 2025 Discussing the incident on the bench with Garcia on Sunday, former AFLW player-turned-analyst McCarthy suggested Garcia was on a hiding to nothing. McCarthy said Lyon should have directed his spray at a more senior player, and would be better off playing Garcia in the VFL rather than giving him limited minutes in the AFL. After journalist Josh Gabelich said on 'The Round So Far' that it was "brutal" treatment of a 19-year-old, McCarthy responded: "Cleary he's trying to make a point and set a standard, but Hugo Garcia is in his 16th game of (AFL) football. He had 23 minutes of game time across one-and-a-half quarters. "He's pointed the finger at Hugo Garcia for not playing the 'stay forward' mid. But in the first quarter, Lachie Neale's direct opponent was Jack Steele - the captain of the club - and he allowed Neale to waltz into an open goal and kick the first goal of the game. "For me, if you're sending a message, it's a player like that you send a message through, not a 16-gamer who's still learning the ropes. If you don't want to play him or give him the opportunity to learn from his mistakes, don't play him. Let him learn in the VFL, and then when he's ready to play that role in the AFL, play him there. "For me, roasting a player on the bench before quarter-time and subbing him out in the second quarter is not going to help a player learn. It's going to send them the other way. I don't really know what Hugo Garcia is going to get out of that for the next few weeks." "If you're sending a message, it's a player like that that you send a message to, not a 16-gamer.'- Kate McCarthy on Ross Lyon's take on Hugo GarciaWatch Now: — (@AFLcomau) April 27, 2025 However not everyone agrees. While some believe Lyon was off the mark, others felt he was well within his rights to issue a spray considering the way things are going. Veteran broadcaster Stephen Quartermain countered: "Sometimes tough love is the best love. We can't kiss and cuddle the modern player all the time. I bet you Hugo Garcia has learnt a valuable footy lesson." no more cuddly Ross .. love the good old spray .. bloody modern sensitive players need a kick — MARTY BOY (@M4RTiBoi) April 26, 2025 If my boss treated me like this I'm gone the next day — Amyl (@amylthesniffer) April 27, 2025 @stkildafc Hugo Garcia was playing hard and trying to get in and Steele's timing was way off all game. Steele is not fit or is too slow now. Bad decision by Ross Lyon.I hope he apologised to Hugo and Hugo stays at St Kilda. Memories of how Ross treated Luke Ball — john sinisgalli (@johnvsinisgalli) April 27, 2025 Lyon said the first quarter was "really disappointing" that players weren't "tuned in mentally to the conditions and the opponents like they needed to." He added: "We had some good passages, but we're not executing at a high enough standard for long enough." with AAP
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eddie McGuire's son Xander in huge scoop about AFL club amid nasty allegations
Xander McGuire continues to prove himself as a rising star of the AFL media landscape after breaking a big story about the Geelong Cats and the future of Sam De Koning on Wednesday night. And in doing so the 22-year-old is destroying a nasty narrative around his famous father Eddie. Xander is working on Channel 7 in 2025 and has featured across the network's footy coverage - from game broadcasts to talk shows and news bulletins. He's also landed a role as host of 'The Round So Far' program on the AFL website, but the gigs have sparked ugly claims of nepotism. Many think Xander has only risen so high because of his surname, but in reality he appears to be a gun journo in his own right. He won the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award at the Australian Football Media Association awards last year, and has been quietly working his way up the ranks. Earlier this month he was the first to report that James Worpel suffered a syndesmosis injury in Hawthorn's win over Sydney in Opening Round, and has impressed footy fans with his confidence on screen and insight into the game. And that continued on Wednesday night when he reported the big news that De Koning is set to remain in Geelong. Sam De Koning's loyalties lie at the Cattery with the specifics on a new deal to be ironed out shortly. He's forgone a compelling approach from the Saints to remain in Geelong… 👇 @7AFL — Xander McGuire (@XanderMcGuire7) March 19, 2025 St Kilda have been trying to score a massive double coup by luring both De Koning brothers (Sam from Geelong and Tom from Carlton) to the club, with a supposed 'war chest' at their disposal. But McGuire reported on 7News that Sam is staying put at the Cats. 'Sam De Koning is now committed to staying at Geelong,' McGuire revealed. 'The Cats' 2023 premiership defender-turned-ruckman fielded rival offers, but has now made a contract extension at Kardinia Park his priority. St Kilda approached both Sam and Tom De Koning, opening a discussion around whether the high-profile brothers - both out of contract at the end of the year - would consider a bombshell multi-million dollar reunion at Moorabbin." While McGuire said Sam won't be heading to Geelong, the situation with Tom might be a "different story". Tom is said to be weighing up an offer from the Cats for seven years at $1 million per season. RELATED: Sam Mitchell goes public with new details after awful family ordeal Sam Lalor smacks down claims about Dustin Martin after brutal snub McGuire's scoop on Sam De Koning's future shows he's a legitimate gun in the AFL media landscape. Rhett Bartlett - the son of AFL legend Kevin - wrote on social media last month: "The criticism some are posting here for Xander is unwarranted. Easy to bag him cause of famous surname (trust me, I should know). Despite your nepotism arguments, one still has to be passionate, strong work ethic and good at your job and the fact he's into his 5+yr proves that." Big on Xander McGuire, great start @7AFL #AFLSwansHawks — Max Weir (@MaxWeir10) March 7, 2025 nepo baby this nepo baby thatXander McGuire has done nothing but cook since getting the job tbh — Sam. (@Orignial_Sam) March 7, 2025 Speaking to Yahoo Sport Australia recently, leading sports psychologist Alan Mantle summed up the situation that people like McGuire and Lleyton Hewitt's son Cruz have to deal with. "Nepotism is a very hurtful word," he said. "When you hear that word (nepotism) you need to think it's just what someone is saying about you, but it doesn't mean it is you. It's reputation versus character. Character is what you form about yourself and a reputation is something that other people form about you."
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFL fans all say same thing after Eddie McGuire's son makes debut on Channel 7
Xander McGuire impressed AFL fans as he made his debut on Channel 7 on Friday night during Hawthorn's win over Sydney. The son of former Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire, Xander has landed a role on Channel 7 in 2025 and will work during live game broadcasts and across the network's panel shows. The 22-year-old worked as a reporter at Channel 9 for three years before making the switch to Seven this year, and he'll also work as a co-host on 'The Round So Far' program on the AFL website in 2025. Xander was part of Channel 7's post-game coverage on Friday night, and was among the first to report Hawthorn's fears that James Worpel suffered a syndesmosis injury late in the first half. "The fresh news that's coming from the change-rooms is that it's a suspected syndesmosis injury," he said. "This can be graded in many different ways. The ankle got caught underneath himself, which is textbook for that injury. "If he avoids surgery he's probably looking at a 4-5 week injury. If it's on the minor end and gets reclassified as a sprain it's 1-2 weeks. Worst case is surgery and he's out for a long time." James Worpel has a 'suspected syndesmosis injury', reports @ the different options based on how serious it ends up being ⬇️ — 7AFL (@7AFL) March 7, 2025 Xander spoke well and with confidence, leaving viewers impressed. Considering he's the son of such a high-profile figure in the AFL media, his career rise has been dogged by claims of 'nepotism'. But the general feeling amongst fans is that he's earned his own way and is showing that with his skills. One person wrote on social media: "The report was fantastic from Xander McGuire. Delivered the injury news, presented potential return timelines and didn't make it about himself. A rare perfect piece of football journalism. Something you wouldn't expect from a young journalist. He's doing fine work." Another person wrote: "McGuire has fit in perfectly here. You can claim nepotism all you want, but he is very good at his job." While a third added: "Xander McGuire will cop some shit due to the old man, but was good tonight!!" McGuire has fit in perfectly here. You can claim nepotism all you want, but he is very good at his job. — Sam Briggs (@SamBriggs757) March 7, 2025 Big on Xander McGuire, great start @7AFL #AFLSwansHawks — Max Weir (@MaxWeir10) March 7, 2025 nepo baby this nepo baby thatXander McGuire has done nothing but cook since getting the job tbh — Sam. (@Orignial_Sam) March 7, 2025 Xander won the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award at the Australian Football Media Association awards last September, and has been quietly making his way in the AFL media landscape. Rhett Bartlett (son of AFL legend Kevin) wrote on social media last month: "The criticism some are posting here for Xander is unwarranted. Easy to bag him cause of famous surname (trust me, I should know). Despite your nepotism arguments, one still has to be passionate, strong work ethic and good at your job and the fact he's into his 5+yr proves that." One person agreed, responding: "I had an incredible bias against him when he started, but credit where it's due - Xander is already a better presenter than his old man. Perfect delivery every single time." Another commented: "I think he presents extremely well in his TV segments and he's clearly a hard-working and diligent young man. Good on him, I reckon!" RELATED: AFL world responds amid news about Ben Cousins and Daisy Pearce Swans receive Chad Warner boost amid ugly claims about Harley Reid Speaking to Yahoo Sport Australia, leading sports psychologist Alan Mantle said: "Nepotism is a very hurtful word. When you hear that word (nepotism) you need to think it's just what someone is saying about you, but it doesn't mean it is you. It's reputation versus character. Character is what you form about yourself and a reputation is something that other people form about you."
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eddie McGuire's son caught up in ugly storm after dramas surrounding Cruz Hewitt
A leading sports psychologist has told Yahoo Sport Australia of the extra hurdles that people like Xander McGuire and Cruz Hewitt have to overcome to make a name for themselves in the shadow of their famous parents. McGuire was targeted by some awful comments on Saturday when he was announced as a new host of 'The Round So Far' program on the AFL website for 2025. The son of former Collingwood president and legendary sports broadcaster Eddie McGuire, Xander will join Kate McCarthy, Riley Beveridge and Josh Gabelich on the popular weekly show for the new AFL season. The 21-year-old McGuire is considered a rising star in the sports media landscape, and won the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award at the Australian Football Media Association awards last September. He's also landed a job on Channel 7 for 2025 and will reportedly appear on prime-time broadcasts as well as on the network's multiple talk shows. But ugly claims of 'nepotism' have dogged Xander's rise through the footy media landscape, and it was the same on Saturday. The news of his new role on 'The Round So Far' was met with some nasty comments on social media, leading Rhett Bartlett (son of AFL legend Kevin) to respond: "The criticism some are posting here for Xander is unwarranted. Easy to bag him cause of famous surname (trust me, I should know). Despite your nepotism arguments, one still has to be passionate, strong work ethic and good at your job and the fact he's into his 5+yr proves that." I had an incredible bias against him when he started, but credit where it's due - Xander is already a better presenter than his old man. Perfect delivery every single time. — Drew Morphettville (@Goldenjocks) February 15, 2025 Agree! I think he presents extremely well in his TV segments and he's clearly a hard-working and diligent young man. Good on him, I reckon! — Matt Gartside (@MattGart76) February 15, 2025 The situation surrounding Xander is similar to what Cruz Hewitt has had to endure in recent months. There were claims of nepotism when the 16-year-old was granted a wildcard into the Australian Open qualifying tournament, and more when he lost in the first round. Many suggested Cruz had been given preferential treatment because of famous father Lleyton, but Todd Woodbridge later denied those claims categorically. "Cruz is in these positions because he is a very good, talented young player and one of our best here in Australia," Woodbridge said. 'He deserves every opportunity he has got to be there. Some people would like to say otherwise. I know you (Lleyton) have to deal with that and you shouldn't have to, so I am putting it out there - he deserves to be there.' Respected sports psychologist Alan Mantle has worked with a number of Australia's finest sportsmen and women and is acutely aware of the challenges facing the children of former superstars. He recently told Yahoo Sport Australia: "Nepotism is a very hurtful word. I believe anyone who plays at that top level has got there on their own merits. "I'd be very surprised if favours were being done for sons or daughters of famous parents. What I would say to Cruz (and Xander) is that when he hears that word (nepotism) he needs to think it's just what someone is saying about you, but it doesn't mean it is you. "It's reputation versus character. Character is what you form about yourself and a reputation is something that other people form about you. The white noise is always going to be there for him and that's something he won't be able to control. But he can control how he is going to process it and filter it. He has already shown a great deal of resilience to get where he is and that will hold him in good stead into the future." Mantle's message is simple. "Don't let other people's expectations define you. They're external factors you have no control over," he said. "The name and people's comparisons to your famous mother or father is not going to go away – it's how you choose to handle it. Use your father or mother's ability and talent to help model you as an individual but don't copy. It's about finding what works best for you as an individual and doing something you love."
