Former AFL coach Ross Lyon has questioned Melbourne mentor Simon Goodwin’s choice to lead his side from the boundary, saying he’s got “confirmation bias” against the strategy and pointing out “the greatest test” facing on-the-ground coaching.
Goodwin has gone against tradition as Demons coach in recent times, opting to lead his charges from the boundary instead of the box.
When the fifth-year Melbourne coach carries out his job from the Perth Stadium boundary in Saturday’s AFL grand final, Western Bulldogs counterpart Luke Beveridge will do so from upstairs.
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“I think sitting in the box you see everything, collaborate, send a message down,” Lyon said on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“Simon, all year and the last two years, has been on the ground.
“But you’re going to have momentum swings, you’re going to have adjustments. I think it’s the greatest test, the fiercest test, of coaching from the boundary. There’s no doubt you can’t see everything.
“So ‘Bevo’, I think, has a competitive advantage.
“(Goodwin will) create history if he gets it done from the boundary line. But a lot of pressure on (Adam) Yze and (Goodwin’s) assistants to see everything and communicate it down.”
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Goodwin led Melbourne to their first minor premiership since 1964 this season.
The Demons sealed the minor premiership through a Max Gawn goal after the siren in their final-round clash with the Geelong Cats.
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Goodwin this week took out the peers-voted AFL Coaches Association coach of the year award, polling 258 votes as Beveridge took second with 193 votes.
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