Garry Lyon has launched a passionate defence of Melbourne’s five-part pre-season documentary series, To Hell and Back.
SEN SA Breakfast host and Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes questioned the timing of the documentary following the Demons’ horror 2019 season as well as the optimism and positive talk coming out of the club leading into 2020.
But speaking on SEN Breakfast, Lyon, a former Melbourne captain, responded strongly to Cornes' criticism, saying the pre-season is about selling hope to supporters.
“Ridiculous and headline grabbing, that is,” Lyon said.
“We constantly are asking for comments, we constantly want players, we constantly want coaches, and you want them to shut up in February?! What are you doing man?!
“You’re going to have a very quiet show if you want everyone in the AFL to shut up! We had David Teague on yesterday, sold hope like you’ve never heard – that’s what supporters want.
“We don’t want them to shut up! We want them to have a voice, we’re a sports station for god sake man!
“If you don’t agree with what they said - which you don’t clearly – then that’s absolutely fine … don’t want them to shut up, then judge them on the performance.
“The commercial realities demand the clubs sell hope at this time of year, everyone does it from the Gold Coast Suns, to the Richmond Football Club, and everyone in between, and then the realities come and slap you in the face when the games start.
“But right now, that’s what it’s about. It’s about talk, it’s about the selling of hope, it’s up to you, Kane, as a media performer then to work out whether or not you’re buying it, and then to hold them to account as the season unfolds.”
Listen to Garry Lyon’s response on SEN Breakfast in the player below