Hugo Garcia certainly remade his impression on AFL recruiters in Thursday night’s pre-season battle between St Kilda and Fremantle. This brilliant performance was a huge turnaround from his previous nightmare against Brisbane. The 19-year-old was hooked before half-time in the most recent match. Coach Ross Lyon was very frustrated with Garcia’s performance in that game. A week later, Garcia stepped up to become the match-winner against Fremantle, revealing his talent and mental fortitude.
In the match against Brisbane, head coach Eugene spoke about losing his patience with Garcia who was the recipient of a verbal blast from the coach. Lyon’s choice to replace him became a major controversy. Public outrage at this response directed mostly at Garcia’s initial reaction. This counter tactical move marked a big turnaround in their closely watched feud. It ignited rumors churning in MLS circles that this young player was no longer in the club’s plans.
Garcia had an amazing bounce-back game the very next match against Fremantle, arguably being one of St Kilda’s best players. He not only contributed to the team’s overall performance but scored his first goal after the previous week’s setback. This crucial goal came with just four minutes remaining in the match, extending St Kilda’s lead to 55 points and highlighting his ability to rise above adversity.
As Garcia scored, Ross Lyon could sit back in front of the camera and smile proudly. It was a great sign of the coach’s approval. The moment captured a full-circle experience for the player and coach, highlighting Lyon’s ability to inspire a new generation of stars.
“Yeah, a hundred per cent. And we’ve backed him in, we’ve had a lot of young debutants,” – Ross Lyon
Lyon knew just how to inspire Garcia. To that level, he has completely committed and stated his confidence in the player, even after being burned in the previous years. The coach’s point, which I appreciated, was that his style was never personal – but rather productive, actionable feedback designed to push others to improve.
After he scored, Garcia raced back to the bench, bubbling with joy. It was a world away from just a week prior when he’d been subbed off. This time, instead of bringing him back to shame him publicly, he was brought back with pride.
“Can you have favourites? He’s one of ours.” – Ross Lyon
From the beginning, Lyon’s coaching style has been distinguished by his applicable, action-oriented insights, as opposed to emotionally-driven detraction. His commitment to developing young players like Garcia reflects both confidence in their abilities and a strategic vision for the team’s future.
