Ross Lyon has raised questions surrounding the reported “curfew” placed on Melbourne’s players in the lead-up to the AFL grand final, calling it “extreme”.
Melbourne head into their first grand final in 21 years as the favourite against the Western Bulldogs as they hope to end a 57-year premiership drought.
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According to The Age’s Caroline Wilson, the club is leaving no stone unturned in its professional preparation for the decider, with a 9pm “curfew” placed on players to return to the Joondalup Resort where the team currently resides.
“They’re not calling it a curfew, but the players are calling it a curfew,” Wilson said on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“Alan Richardson, the Head of Football, has basically said we want you all back at the Joondalup resort every night by 9pm and we’d rather you all eat dinner together at the resort.
“Those of you who come from Perth originally and have families here, if you do want to go and have dinner with family or friends, we want you back here and in your own beds by nine o’clock.”
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The reported “curfew” did not sit well with Lyon, who coached teams to grand finals in 2009, 2010 and 2013.
“It’s really surprising,” he told Footy Classified.
“I don’t think you need rules for grown men that have got a premiership opportunity in two weeks’ time.
“All I know is you’re making a rod for your back. What happens if someone rolls up at 10pm? What’s the penalty?
“It’s half an hour from the CBD, Joondalup, so they’re really saying you’ve got to be out of the CBD, out of Fremantle, out of Cottesloe by 8:30pm. I think it’s a little bit extreme.”
Wilson also revealed that the Demons’ camp had caused frustrations among the travelling media for being less forthcoming with interview requests.
“It’s been frustrating for the media and it’s gone as far as the AFL that Melbourne have not been as open as the Western Bulldogs have been,” she said.
“It’s just an interesting way of handling things. I know the AFL are frustrated because Melbourne are a team who are trying to become one of the powerhouses.”