THE AFL's most inexperienced senior coach takes on the most experienced at Telstra Dome today. While Ross Lyon has only three games under his belt as St Kilda coach, Sheedy will be shaping up for game 616. Despite that, the novice is sure to make life hard for the veteran.

Lyon and his team of assistants will have researched closely the new-look Bombers. But for the amazing second-half fade-out last week against the Blues, Essendon should be undefeated. The St Kilda brains trust would have noted the following and planned accordingly.

SPEED

In recent years the Bombers have been as slow as treacle through the midfield. An injection of speed has been provided through Alwyn Davey and Leroy Jetta, who were specifically drafted for pace last year. Both are fleet of foot, and with Andrew Lovett and Jason Winderlich, have been encouraged to be bold to run, bounce and carry at every opportunity. When it comes off, it provides key forwards Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas with ample goal-kicking opportunities. Brent Stanton, too, has gone up a notch to be the competition's fifth highest kick-getter. Lyon will set a tag for Stanton. Expect hard-nut Steven Baker to get the job. Also expect all St Kilda players to slow down the mosquito fleet by crunching them at every opportunity.

LLOYD AND LUCAS

So far this season Essendon is the highest-scoring team, averaging more than 17 goals a game. Lloyd and Lucas have kicked half of their teams goals — they have to be stopped. This will be Lyon's toughest job, as his two key defenders are out injured. Sam Fisher is likely to be given the job on Lloyd, and you can expect him to keep Lloyd to four goals — he is that good. Putting the brakes on the in-form Lucas is the tough one. Brendan Goddard and Jason Gram aren't big enough and are needed for rebound in any case. Justin Koschitzke would be too slow to keep up with Lucas' leads, and in Fraser Gehrig's absence, is needed up forward anyway. It may well be Jason Blake or Michael Rix who get to play on the Bomber star. Whoever it is will need support and they can expect to have that from the St Kilda ruckman dropping back into Lucas' leading space.

ACCOUNTABILITY

A big change in Essendon's game plan has been their preparedness to pass short. The Bombers are No. 1 for short passes, marks and in particular uncontested marks. Lyon will put the brakes on that. Footballers feel good when they are getting their hands on the ball. All of the Saints will be instructed to be tight, to lock down, to deny Essendon easy possession. They will try to force the Bombers to kick long to contests.

FLOODING BACK

When Essendon has possession in the midfield, all the Sainters will run to their defensive end to put the squeeze on Essendon's forward space. The Saints don't want a shoot-out. Essendon averages 17 goals a game and the Saints only 12. A tight, in-close game with plenty of stoppages will suit the Saints, especially with ruckman Matthew Clarke and rover Luke Ball returning to the team.

BOMBER DEFENCE

In three games, the Bombers have conceded on average 104 points a game to the opposition. That's a lot. Essendon's two premier backmen, Dustin Fletcher and Mal Michael, won't get Nick Riewoldt, the Saints' best forward, as neither could keep up with him. That job will go to Adam McPhee. What Lyon will do is try to exploit Michael by playing a leading player on him as Michael always slows from behind. And with Fletcher, Lyon will try to drag him away from the action, as the angular man is in rare form, averaging 22 possessions a game in the back half and being the dominant force there.

CLEARANCES

St Kilda has to lift its act to win here, as they are the worst-performing team in the AFL in the all-important area of clearances from stoppages. They shouldn't be when you consider the quality at ground level. It is up to Robert Harvey, Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes, Ball and Baker to make this a priority if they are going to win today. Hayes leads the Saints with eight clearances for the season. Chris Judd sets the standard with 22.
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