St Kilda coach Ross Lyon expects Carlton to return to their best in their Friday night clash at the MCG after the Bluesโ wining streak came to a shuddering halt last round.
While the Saints snapped a three-game losing run with a 61-point win over Fremantle, the Blues saw their own three-match rally ended in a 110-50 point loss to Adelaide.
Saints coach Ross Lyon.Credit: Getty Images
Lyon said his AFL team hadnโt spent any time savouring the morale-boosting win, with a big match looming against Carlton, which is the fifth annual Spudโs Game, played in memory of Danny Frawley and to raise funds and awareness for mental health.
He said he expected the Blues to return to the form that saw them edge Geelong in round seven at the MCG.
โWeโve moved on pretty quick to Carlton, who have had some pretty good wins, and theyโll be disappointed about the weekend,โ Lyon said before Saints training on Tuesday.
โWe know that we were able to respond off a couple of struggles, and I think theyโre in the same boat, so weโre expecting the best of Carlton.
โTheir last performance at the MCG was fantastic against Geelong and theyโve got a really strong midfield in particular and key forwards, so weโve got our hands full.โ
Expecting to retain much of the line-up that dismantled the Dockers, with rising midfielder Mattaes Phillipou and veteran forward Mason Wood chances to come into the mix, Lyon said the performance showed โspiritโ after a frustrating period for the team.
โIt was just the fundamentals done well and plenty of spirit,โ he said, with the Saints 10th on the ladder, three places ahead of Carlton.
โOur clearance work was good, our pressure was good, we had 61 entries, defended really well, so itโs just a lot that goes into the mix.
โIt is a long, hard season for everyone and everyone ebbs and flows … we just want to see that spirit and the fundamentals done well again.โ
AAP
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