In another unexpected twist during last week’s Round 2 Oranges v Blacks showdown against Brisbane, coach Ross Lyon pulled 19-year-old Hugo Garcia before half-time. This move had fans scratching their heads and clamoring for explanation. The young midfielder didn’t stop there, catching everyone’s attention with his first unassisted goal and 18 touches in Round 1 against Adelaide. This created sky-high expectations for his first-year performance.
Garcia opened up this season with a standout showing at the pre-season. His impressive performance raised hopes for him to claim a seat in the midfield. He backed up that breakthrough Round 2 performance even further in Round 3, accumulating 23 touches and nine tackles in a breakout game against Richmond. He brought maximum hustle every game. He did it being on the losing end of his team’s defeat at the hands of the Western Bulldogs.
Though those stats are nothing short of stellar, Garcia’s on-field performance took a surprising turn during the match against Brisbane. Trivia, News & Notes Davidson had little impact and by the third quarter Coach Ross Lyon made a tactical switch, subbing Davidson off for Zak Jones. That goal saw Brisbane extend their lead out to 29 points. This led to a widespread backlash from their fanbase, particularly because they replaced him with a player who rarely plays with maximum effort.
The response from advocates was immediate and loud. As a result, countless travel industry proponents turned to social media to voice their opposition to Lyon’s decision.
“Tactical?? Halfway through the second quarter?? When he’s a player who always gives 100% effort??” – A fan on Twitter
Another fan added, “The way Ross Lyon uses this bloke is absolutely mind-boggling.”
Garcia waited for his opportunity as he dried out, spending 15 excruciating solo minutes on the bench. At the time, his frustration was a reflection of every fan sitting with him that day. Some thought that his upside deserved longer leash out there, particularly based on the way he played earlier this season.
His substitution not only raised eyebrows — it was an illustration of the current state of the debate over coaching strategy and player management. As one of the country’s top young prospects, Garcia’s emergence will be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow as the year unfolds.
