Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon has given glowing praise to his old side for the way they performed during Friday night’s Semi Final victory over Hawthorn.
The Dees controlled the majority of the game, but also held off a fast-finishing Hawks side and managed to re-take the ascendency after the margin was narrowed to just 12 points.
Lyon, who’s been through the all the ups and downs associated with the Melbourne Football Club in recent times, said their last quarter efforts were the most pleasing aspect of the win.
“The Hawks kicked three goals in that final quarter to make them nervous and they steadied,” Lyon told AFL Nation.
“Of all the things that happened (on Friday night) from a Melbourne perspective, that was the most impressive, because there would’ve been 60,000 Melbourne supporters in the crowd thinking – look out, the Hawks are coming.
“I just can’t talk highly enough of their leaders. I thought Viney was out-and-out magnificent.
“Across the board, Tom McDonald’s become a leader. Michael Hibberd in the back half, Harmes was great, Melksham stood up in the last quarter, Neville Jetta, the All-Australian selectors got it wrong, it’s as simple as that.
“I can understand the emotion that runs through all the supporters and the players and they’ve earned the right, that’s the thing.”
Lyon said the Dees will prepare for their Preliminary Final clash with West Coast knowing they’re good enough to win.
“They’re not going to Perth lucky. They’re going over there having earned the right to travel over there and take on the Eagles,” he said.
“They’ll go over there and throw absolutely everything at it.”
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