Ross Lyon re-affirms he's "keen" to coach St Kilda again, 11 years after his departure to Fremantle.
"I'm keen. My heart's been opened up to St Kilda through Andrew (Bassat) and Simon (Lethlean) and their board," Lyon told the Nine Network.
"I don't like the narrative around St Kilda. Maybe it's deserved, but I think sometimes it's a bit disrespectful. Hopefully, it can get to a point where I'm able to roll up the sleeves and help get in and change that."
Following the departure of Brett Ratten, Ross Lyon confirms his interest in making a return as St Kilda coach in 2023 after having meetings with the Saints' administration.
After being heavily touted as the favourite to be the next coach of Carlton, Ross Lyon announces that he has informed the Blues that he will no longer be part of what Lyon described as the Blues' "process" in finding the right candidate for the job.
"They've put the panel together, but everyone says the word 'process'. There's lots of things that can go into a process. What does it look like? Is it a PowerPoint? Is it question and answer? Is it an interview? What is it?" Lyon told Channel 9.
"The other part of that is clearly what the process looks like, because it's just a word. What sits within that, the mechanics and what needs to be delivered? That's what I'm unaware of and when that's put to me, then you sit down.
"Yeah, I'm interested in the process. But I've got to make sure I fit that process."
Blues president Luke Sayers confirms that he has spoken to Ross Lyon at length about Carlton's vacant coaching position following the sacking of David Teague.
"I did have a conversation with Ross (Lyon) (on Thursday night). A general conversation for about 45 minutes," Sayers told SEN radio.
"Ross is excited to put his hat in the ring once we figure out whatever is the process to move forward at the Carlton footy club."
David Teague's manager Liam Pickering concedes his client could soon lose his job as Carlton coach.
"I spoke to them (Carlton) this week (on Teague's future) and they didn't have an answer. They said we have to wait for a review. The silence is deafening though isn't it?" Pickering said.
Pickering also took aim at former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon who made it known via an interview that he would be keen to explore coaching the Blues after opting not to pursue the vacant position at Collingwood.
"He was talking very smugly the other night. He went on a five-minute rant about why he'd be a great man for the job, his coaching record, Grand Finals at two clubs," Pickering said.
"I get more angry at this stuff than (Teague), I don't think you treat people the way he's been treated this year. It's poor. Then you've got ex-coaches jumping on his grave as well."
Ben McEvoy reveals that he did not enjoy playing under his first coach, Ross Lyon, at St Kilda.
"Ross was very unlucky, and the thing that I say now but probably not at the time - I didn't enjoy playing under Ross too much," McEvoy said.
"I found him hard to deal with, and I was a young, naïve kid. I am absolutely sure he would've found me just as frustrating to coach. But the thing I loved about Ross' teams was that there was no ego attached. Everyone played their role."
Ross Lyon admits that trading for Andrew Lovett during his tenure as coach of St Kilda in 2009 was an "unmitigated disaster".
"(Lovett) was a sublime talent, there's no doubt about that. And it's like, talk's cheap, isn't it? Everyone can sell themselves, and look, you get all their references, but the danger with some references is that they're biased or weighted," Lyon said in an interview with Damian Barrett.
"Maybe, as a club did we act too quickly - I don't know - and not see it out? But it was on the back of a lot of bills."
In an interview with Damian Barrett, Ross Lyon speculates that trading Luke Ball to Collingwood may have resulted in the Pies' Grand Final success in 2010 against his team.
"He took some IP (intellectual property), with Max Hudghton (as an assistant coach) to help teach the press to Collingwood, and their talent was very strong," Lyon said.
"Clarko (Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson) started that mobile grid and we did a bit of work and turned it into a strong press, and Collingwood hadn't done it very well in 2009, but in 2010, they became good."
Fresh from being named All-Australian for the first time, Michael Walters credits recently sacked Fremantle coach Ross Lyon's tough love for salvaging his career.
Walters reflected on Lyon's decision to send him back to train at Swan Districts as an overweight 21-year-old in 2012 as a turning point.
"I got on well with Ross because he sent me back and I realised that he was the one who gave me that drive to get back and play AFL footy," Walters told ABC Perth.
"It was more based around my own mindset where I don't want to let anyone dictate my career. Doing that, I used Ross as the fuel for me to get back and play AFL footy.
"Ross was one of those guys for all the players where you can walk up to, you can feel comfortable talking to him about anything. With a young group, that's what everyone really needs."
Ross Lyon is stood down as head coach of Fremantle.
Lyon was contracted to coach Fremantle into 2020, but has failed to make the finals since 2015.
"I would have liked to have finished next year," Lyon said.
"I probably don't agree with the decision, but I certainly respect the decision. For the reasons that there was no way that the club would extend me beyond 2020, with the noise around that, it was a lot for them. They wanted some clean air."
Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw praises the way Dockers coach Ross Lyon is handling the hysteria surrounding his future at the club.
"He takes it in his stride. He takes it like a champ," Brayshaw said.
"Seeing some of the stuff that gets said about him - to be here and still have a smile on his face it's really big from him.
"Being a coach of a WA football club you have to ride the highs and the lows.
"Last week he came to us and said, 'No matter what's going on boys, I'm here and I'm really confident in the group moving forward, and don't read into it'."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon believes there are agendas being run to get him out of Fremantle as speculation continues to swirl about his coaching future.
"There's lots of agendas being run. There's agendas to move me on and get me out of the club. Apparently, there's noise that I'm required in Melbourne," Lyon said.
"I'm committed to my contract. I'm enjoying my time here."
Ross Lyon has guaranteed he will remain Fremantle's coach next season, and declared the rebuilding Dockers are clearly on track in the face of stinging criticism in the wake of the second-biggest Western Derby loss in history.
The 91-point drubbing from West Coast was Freo's third-straight defeat, following losses to bottom-three outfits Melbourne and Carlton, and has ramped up pressure on the coach (and club) amid fading finals hopes.
"The wider issue is we're a young group that's emerging. We're on track, we're clearly on track and building a great platform, and we'll only get better again next year," Lyon said.
"We have been in every game. Average losing margin of 11. No one can stand here and tell me we couldn't have won every (other) game we've been in – it was the first game.
"If we don't measure it on the body of work it's non-sensical and it is hysterical. But I just do my job, I find that's stood me in pretty good stead."
The rumour mill is set alight when Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is spotted having lunch with Blues list manager Stephen Silvagni following the sacking of former Blues coach Brendon Bolton.
"I had a beautiful barramundi bowl at Sea Salt Fish and Chips, the best in Carlton," Lyon told Channel Seven with a smile.
"He (Silvagni) is a close friend of mine ... so nothing suspicious there.
"I think if there was any subterfuge going on, I don't think we'd be sitting in the main strip of Carlton restaurants."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says the Dockers' rebuild is still on track despite the club suffering its heaviest defeat in the club’s history against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
The Dockers led at the first change but failed to kick a goal after quarter-time, as Geelong rammed home an AFL record 23-unanswered goals en route to the 133-point annihilation.
"I think it’s a little bit unfair to (question the rebuild) on the back of playing one AFL game," Lyon said.
“The AFL understands how long it takes. We know it doesn’t take three years. If you ask head office, they know it takes five to six years."
Ross Lyon has declined to elaborate on a report alleging he is the senior Fremantle official who made a confidential payment to a woman who alleges he made an inappropriate comment to her.
"Fundamental to the AFL Respect and Responsibility Policy is privacy for all parties and clearly I need to respect that and I'm not in a position to comment," Lyon told Channel Seven.
"All I can say is it was a workplace matter resolved by the club and the AFL Integrity Unit independently investigated it and there's been no sanction handed down."
A report by Fairfax Media names Fremantle coach Ross Lyon as the Dockers official alleged to have made a confidential payment to a woman who alleges he made an inappropriate comment to her.
"This was a workplace matter that has been resolved by the club and independently investigated by the AFL's Integrity Unit at the request of the club, the subject of the complaint and with due respect and care for our former employee," CEO Steve Rosich said in the statement.
"With regard to the requested investigation under the AFL's Respect and Responsibility Policy, the league completed it some months ago to the AFL's and the club's full satisfaction."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says the club is not panicking despite consecutive losses to the tune of 104 points to Sydney and Richmond respectively.
"Everyone wants to be dramatic, but there's plenty of light at the end of the tunnel," Lyon said.
"Our young players are signing on, we're banging games into our kids, and the bulk of them, when we've had a lot of personnel unavailable, have been very competitive, so it's not panic stations here."
Dockers coach Ross Lyon details why Fremantle released a strongly worded statement shooting down a report he showed interest in replacing Nathan Buckley as Collingwood coach.
"It's about more than myself. It struck at the heart of my commitment to the rebuild and what we're doing – we've got a lot of exciting young players, we're all working very hard and it was very undermining," Lyon told Channel Seven.
"I really wanted to have a strong statement and call it for what it was, a blatant fabrication."
Fremantle has emphatically dismissed a Perth radio claim by Brad Hardie that Dockers coach Ross Lyon approached Collingwood about becoming its next senior coach.
"I am bitterly disappointed that such so-called journalism even sees the light of day," Lyon said in a statement.
"I have contacted Brad Hardie directly and voiced my disgust at his comments.
"They are totally without foundation and not based on fact in any way, shape or form.
"Such an erroneous and reckless claim should be exposed for what it is – a complete fabrication and a falsehood."
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley lashes out at the media after a report that Fremantle coach Ross Lyon had approached Collingwood about coaching the club in 2018.
Perth broadcaster Brad Hardie made the sensational claim on 6PR radio and the story has since been angrily rebutted by the Dockers.
Buckley echoed Lyon's disappointment that the story was aired and said Hardie should be held to account for it.
"You guys know the ones (reporters) that do the due diligence and do your work and support your suppositions with fact, and you also know the ones that take leaps of faith. You've got to hold those blokes to account," Buckley said.
"How can you let someone come up with absolute fabrications, who's in your industry? That's the key question."
Geelong premiership coach Chris Scott will coach Australia against Ireland later this year with his brother, North Melbourne's Brad Scott, and Fremantle's Ross Lyon alongside him as assistants.
"Having experienced this series as both a player and as a member of the coaching staff, I know first-hand how much this means to the people involved," Scott said.
"To be able to represent Australia and to grow the appeal of the game with the best players coming together, is a tremendous honour."
Ross Lyon coach in his 250th match when the Dockers face the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
Despite not having coached a premiership side, Lyon's 61 per cent winning record (153 victories) and four Grand Finals is testament to his coaching ability.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon insists his side is better than it's showed in 2017 after a horror 0-2 start to the season, including a 89-point belting from Port Adelaide.
"(I'm) certainly hurting. We're all hurting. We understand the journey we're on and we need to improve and we're transitioning," Lyon told Channel Seven.
"We certainly think we're better than what we showed on the weekend."
Lyon rejected criticism that the Dockers, who are in the midst of a four-year rebuild, haven't moved with the times.
"I don’t have to listen to it to know what's being said, because it's predictable," Lyon said.
"That's fair enough, we're not winning, so that goes with the territory.
"We think we're changing (the game style) and obviously with the changes comes some uncertainty.
"We expected to be playing better, we don't shy away from that, but we've certainly got a growth mindset – we're not a fixed mindset – so we aim to improve."
Fremantle football boss Chris Bond has thrown his support behind senior coach Ross Lyon, insisting he is the right man to lead the Dockers through their four-year rebuild.
The Dockers have been publicly slammed following an embarrassing 89-point thrashing from Port Adelaide on Sunday, which saw them tumble down to last spot on the ladder with a 0-2 record and percentage of just 49.6.
"The strength of Ross is he's the first person to put his hand up and say 'what we're doing at the moment isn't working and we all take responsibility for that'," Bond said.
"From our point-of-view, to have him as a long-term coach at our football club is just outstanding for us and the path we're taking.
"No one could be better heading it up than he is."
David Mundy says the Dockers can bounce back quickly, despite coach Ross Lyon warning last week that a rebuild could take four years.
"I've got different opinions about a number of things than Ross and that may just be one," Mundy said.
"All I know is that we're working really hard together to try and make sure that the rebuild, or the bounce, is as quick as it can be and we're back playing finals football as soon as we can be. That's what we're here for."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon predicts a four-year rebuild for the Dockers.
"Everyone hopes to do it quickly but if you look at the Bulldogs (playing preliminary finals) in 2009-10, then in Rocket's last year (2011), they started playing the kids," Lyon said.
"And they starting playing finals last year, which is 2015, so it's 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, so it's four years and played in their fifth year.
"West Coast went down for a few years and then came back. We understand where we're at. We haven't changed our messaging. There's basically seven or eight players under 20 games again. We're on a journey."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon elaborates on the situation with Hayden Ballantyne after it was reported that the small forward had requested a trade from the club, preferably to West Coast.
Lyon had earlier denied knowing of any such trade request, a claim which many interpreted as being untruthful.
Lyon said he had had a conversation with Ballantyne, where the small forward asked about his next contract, "a three-year deal", and not specifically about a trade.
Lyon told Ballantyne that it was between Ballantyne's manager Colin Young and the Dockers' list manager Brad Lloyd.
"That's how I responded and then people inferred that I lied about that, which I'm not thrilled about," Lyon said.
"But clearly in the background Hayden's manager has then late this week, and even as late as Friday, gone and put some things forward to the club that we've now all become aware of. That's the exact situation."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he is comfortable with his coaching style despite the rumblings around the club.
"I see this as an opportunity. There's always a loud minority, and there's always people prepared to listen to a loud minority," Lyon said.
"But for me, I just want to continue to be the coach that Matthew Pavlich wanted his whole career. I'm pretty comfortable with that.
"That's what he wrote in his book, didn't he? I'm the coach that he always hoped for. I'm pretty comfortable continuing in that vein. It's not a bad spot to be."
Lachie Weller credits Dockers coach Ross Lyon as the most important person in his development at AFL level since being drafted with pick No.13 in the 2014 Draft.
"He has probably been the most influential person so far since I've been here," Weller said.
"I'm learning a lot every day off him and really enjoying it.
"You sort of come out of juniors and you hunt the ball, but now you've got to learn it's a 360 (degree) game.
"I'm sort of learning about that, some of the decision making when you can't influence and stuff like that. So that's what I'm working on."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has slammed insinuations that the Dockers are tanking in 2016.
The Dockers sit in last spot on the ladder with a 0-10 record, leading some observers to suggest the club is tanking in a bid to gain the No.1 NAB AFL Draft pick at season's end.
"At the end of the day, culturally it's really hard to turn it around from (a losing mentality)," Lyon said.
"We want to establish our habits for success in adversity.
"You don't just drift through a year, establish bad habits, and then next year practice great habits. It doesn't work like that.
"You don't flirt with that at all, because it's really difficult (to turn around), and you send confusing and mixed messages to your young players.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has questioned his own coaching group and the Dockers' pre-season program after lamenting his players' inability to execute their skills under pressure during Saturday night's loss to West Coast.
The Dockers have slumped to 0-3 for the first time under Lyon and are in danger of seeing the season slip away dramatically.
"We spoke as a group afterwards. We put it on the table that at the end of the day, as coaches, we take responsibility. Because we thought we delivered a football program that under pressure they'd be able to execute," Lyon said.
"Under pressure our players know what they need to do and were able to perform. At the minute, the program hasn't delivered them to be instinctive and make decisions to the level they need to."
Fremantle secures Ross Lyon as head coach of the club until 2020 after extending his existing contract by three more years.
"We're certainly aiming for a premiership and you don't shy away from that," Lyon said.
"Particularly by the end of this tenure, I'll have no excuse to not have achieved that because we're fully resourced, fully supported and I've certainly got a timeframe where I can make short-term and long-term decisions to get us where we want to be."
Ross Lyon will enter the forthcoming season with the equal best winning record of any coach not to win a premiership.
In 143 games in charge of St Kilda and Fremantle, Lyon's winning record is 67 per cent and according to new figures published in the just released 2016 AFL Record Season Guide of all those to have coachyed at least 100 games, only Geelong's Peter Pianto between 1966 and 1970 can match that.
"Personally I have never felt more in control, more settled and more enthusiastic, fitter and healthier than I am now, so personally I think my best is yet to come," Lyon said.
Senior coaches leaving the coach's box to speak to umpires during the game is not a good look for the game, according to Ross Lyon.
During Sunday's Fremantle-Greater Western Sydney clash at Domain Stadium, Giants coach Leon Cameron twice left the box to run down to the bench to speak to emergency umpire Nathan Williamson.
Cameron said he was seeking clarification on some of the decisions made during the game to give feedback to his coaches and players.
Lyon said he understood how a coach could be led to that situation but he did not think it was something senior coaches should be doing.
"I don't think it's ideal," Lyon said post-match.
"Leon would have his motives for that. But I don't think it's a great look for the game.
"We all get frustrated on different weeks. I understand the frustration.
"But Leon's a really good person. He can do whatever he likes, ultimately. But I don't think it's something we should encourage."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon insists there was "nothing mischievous" in his meeting with a member of the sub-committee that will recommend Carlton's next senior coach.
Lyon met with former Carlton player and St Kilda coach Ken Sheldon, who is part of the five-man panel appointed by the Blues to find Mick Malthouse's permanent successor.
Lyon, who is contracted as Fremantle coach until the end of 2017, met with Sheldon but said the Blues were simply asking for advice on what type of coach they should chase to fill the role.
"They're clearly just firming up their processes and [asking] about the requirements of the job," Lyon told Channel Ten.
"So it was really nothing mischievous and certainly nothing to do with me ... I find it distasteful that you would think it would be about me. But that's OK, I understand."
Later on Monday night, Lyon said the issue had been blown out of proportion.
"(Sheldon)'s a very good friend. He made an appointment with me last week. We met at that low key spot in Fremantle, the Norfolk [Hotel], and in my Dockers gear. So he just wanted to go through the process," he told Channel Seven.
"He conducted the interview process with me at St Kilda and he's just trying to firm up how they go about it and what they're looking for, those type of situations. And every time he's in Perth we basically catch up. So, yeah, it's a mountain out of a molehill really. Irrelevant."
AFL will take no further action following an investigation into an altercation between Fremantle coach Ross Lyon and a spectator at Saturday's qualifying final at ANZ Stadium.
The League's football operations department received a security report from ANZ Stadium on Monday and analysed all available vision of the incident, which occurred at three-quarter time of the Dockers' loss to the Sydney Swans.
League football operations manager Mark Evans said it was the AFL's view that fans should have no physical contact with players and coaches at any time.
The AFL is waiting until it receives a security report before further investigating an altercation between Fremantle coach Ross Lyon and a fan who slapped him on the back while walking through the crowd in Saturday's loss to the Sydney Swans.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has brushed off an altercation with a fan who slapped him on the back while walking through the crowd in Saturday's loss to the Sydney Swans
The incident took place as Lyon, flanked by stadium security, walked past spectators just outside the Dockers' coaches box and near the press box at ANZ Stadium.
"Someone hit me on the back and I responded. That was about the size of it." Lyon said.
"I just felt some force to my back so I turned around and said 'Please don't do that'."
The Australian reported that the spectator, Dockers fan David Soale, said he merely offered Lyon some encouragement by patting him on the back.
"I just said 'Go get em Ross' and he turned around and grabbed me by the throat," Soale said, adding that the Freo coach peppered the brief exchange with profanities.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has been confirmed as Alastair Clarkson's second assistant for the International Rules series in November.
Scott, who led the Cats to the 2011 premiership, joins Fremantle coach Ross Lyon as the two assistants to Clarkson.
"Chris has done a superb job since taking over as the coach of the Geelong Cats, progressing deep into the finals every season since 2011 while introducing a new breed of young players to keep the club at the top of the ladder," AFL general manager of football operations Mark Evans said.
"A coaching panel of Alastair, Ross and Chris brings together some of our leading coaching minds and we are delighted that each has committed to be part of this year's series."
David Armitage doesn't think he'd be preparing for his 100th AFL game this Sunday if Ross Lyon hadn't come to St Kilda at the end of 2006.
"He was just very stern and very honest. He pretty much pulled me in a couple of times to his office and said, 'You're not going to make it unless you do A, B, and C'," Armitage said.
"Sometimes he was really hard but I'd say fair and who knows, if it wasn't for those stern 'talking-tos' and 'this is how it is' discussions, who knows if I would have played 100 or not.
"I'm certainly grateful for his input in five years."
Hayden Ballantyne believes he is playing the best football of his career, and credits Fremantle coach Ross Lyon as one of the major reasons.
"He points out the things you need to work on, and is just at you and at you and at you until you improve it," Ballantyne said.
"Just little things like recovery, and all the smaller things that I probably wasn't at the elite level like Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin and blokes like that.
"I think that's really helped, because Ross holds everyone so accountable to everything."
Saints director Andrew Thompson says Ross Lyon's decision to leave St Kilda to coach Fremantle was primarily motivated by money.
"This probably comes down to the inequality of the teams within the AFL. You've got powerful teams interstate who can pay coaches substantially more than what some of the clubs in Victoria can pay," Thompson said.
"There was no doubt money was an aspect of it.
"He loved the players, the players liked him, so I don't think there was ever going to be a stage where he really wanted to go until it got to that point where he got a big offer at the last stage.
"We thought we had a deal with him in that last week."
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says removing the bump is beneficial for the game.
"I think the bump's dead," Lyon said.
"Unless you hit it perfectly below the shoulders, you're going to be in a lot of trouble.
"So we're supportive, we all know why the rule's there. We know the intent. We want all the Auskick kids to play. You'd be happy for your son to play the game. It's a great game.
"We're trying to avoid significant injuries and concussions, because it's a serious issue. So therefore, I'm really supportive of the changes."
Ross Lyon has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain as coach of Fremantle until the end of the 2017 season.
"It just made sense to look forward and make sure we've got everything in place to give ourselves the best chance to continue to improve in this really competitive competition," Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich said.
"So it made sense to extend Ross' contract. He's pivotal to our on-field success."
Ross Lyon has given a stinging assessment of critics vocal against his miserly game plan, calling them minnows desperate to be heard.
"The teams I coach, have they played perfect football the whole time? No. Clearly they've played some great footy for the majority of the time," Lyon said.
"At the end of the day there's a lot of minnows out there that like to get heard above the pack."
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Fremantle midfielder Clancee Pearce says new coach Ross Lyon is the best thing that has ever happened to his football.
"He just gives me a lot of confidence and shows that if you do the work you're going to get rewarded," Pearce said.
"He's a really good communicator and I think he's the best in the business. If you do the hard work and show that you're willing to give great effort he'll give you a chance. He's pretty straight down the line."
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Matthew Pavlich says the club must now move forward with coach new Ross Lyon despite the controversial sacking of former coach Mark Harvey.
"When there's that type of situation occurring, I think internally there needs to be a group of people really showing that 'OK, this is what's happened, let's not talk about the past, let's get into action and let's worry about the future'," Pavlich said.
"It was a shame what happened, and certainly a shock for everyone, but the club saw it as - if you can in this sport - a non-emotive business decision that they wanted to have transacted and they moved upon that."
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
New Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has revealed he faced enormous stress during the 2009 season due to severe financial strain.
"[My financial situation] was pretty significant. I didn't tell anyone but my closest friends. I just dug in with my wife and we coped," Lyon said.
"Everyone got hit and it was my own stupidity. It certainly wasn't cowboy stuff. It had been a 10-year investment that basically disappeared. That's what I was coping with."
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Former St Kilda coach Ross Lyon never emphatically told the group he would coach in 2012, skipper Nick Riewoldt says.
"That's a misconception that's out there at the moment, at no stage did Ross say black and white that he was going to stay, everyone knew he was contracted [in 2012] and I think there were a lot of assumptions made, but at no stage did he say verbatim, 'I'll be here next year'," Riewoldt said.
Friday, 16 September 2011
Garry Lyon denies the Demons put forth a lucrative five-year offer to Ross Lyon, while Ross Lyon and management split.
"We've never spoken to Ross Lyon, I've never spoken to Ross Lyon," Garry Lyon said.
"The only extent of the conversation has been with Craig Kelly, his management, and it was as simple as this; if Ross was available to talk, then we'd be interested in talking to him.
"There was never an offer put to him, we respected that he was going through the process with the St Kilda footy club."
Ross Lyon sensationally quits the Saints and will take over as Fremantle coach after the abrupt sacking of Mark Harvey.
"It was an extremely difficult decision to make but after lengthy consideration it is a decision that we believe is in the best interests of the long-term future of the Fremantle Football Club," Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich said.
"We are very grateful for everything that Mark has done during his six years at the club and wish Mark all the best for the future, both personally and professionally."
The news comes only days after news reports of Lyon having agreed to a contract extension with the Saints.
"The St Kilda Football Club is disappointed that Ross Lyon will not be continuing as senior coach. Until this evening the club was engaged in constructive discussions with Lyon's management about his long term future at the Saints," a statement from St Kilda read.
St Kilda chief executive Michael Nettlefold says the Saints had no idea Ross Lyon was in discussions with Fremantle.
"As a matter of fact we were in really constructive discussions with his management group about an extension to his existing contract, which had 12 months to run," Nettlefold said.
"That was to be a new contract over a four-year period, an extension of three years. We had every reason to believe that was an acceptable offer and a really solid commercial offer and we were going to be making an announcement to that effect yesterday."
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
On the even of the 2011 finals, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has been strongly linked to the vacant coaching position at Melbourne but says he chooses not to discuss it.
"Let me clear it up for everyone in the room. My position hasn't changed. Like Mick Malthouse, I don't deal in rumour and innuendo," he said.
"And certainly I am committed as I have ever been to my role and my status hasn't changed one iota. I think that answers it for everybody."
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
St Kilda has sacked Andrew Lovett after his rape charge, but coach Ross Lyon says due diligence was done.
"It was a thorough process. There were a couple of sit downs with me and the list manager (Matthew Drain) and with our senior players and we referenced a great deal of people from his previous football club," Lyon said.
"We were satisfied we had enough information clearly to make the decision to do it. We don't stand away from that, but in the events that have continued since then it is an unfortunate outcome."
Friday, 4 December 2009
Coach Ross Lyon has been rewarded for St Kilda's on-field success with a new three-year contract.
"It builds confidence in me," Lyon said.
"The faith and backing from board level has been unwavering since I walked through the door.
"I feel extremely privileged to be coaching at St Kilda and consider it an honour to be presented with the opportunity to lead the club as senior coach for at least another three seasons."
Friday, 13 November 2009
Sydney coach Paul Roos reveals that St Kilda counterpart Ross Lyon tried to snare Tadhg Kennelly.
"Rossy rang me during trade week and was up front with me, and just said the Saints wanted to explore the options with Tadhg," Roos said.
"But I said to him at the time, 'If Tadhg comes back to Australia, I strongly believe he'll come back to us at the Swans'. He's a huge part of this footy club and we knew his heart lay in Sydney."
Saturday, 26 September 2009
St Kilda champion Robert Harvey says Max Hudghton is a victim of coach Ross Lyon's ruthless pursuit of a premiership after the popular defender failed to make the 2009 grand final side to face Geelong.
"For a bloke that's put in so much it's hard, but that's just part and parcel of footy. That's how brutal the business is and obviously St Kilda have only won one (premiership)," Harvey said.
"Ross is trying to get that second one and nothing is going to stand in his way.
"Some people don't understand why it would make such a difference in the end but that's just the way it is. There's a coldness almost about that quest to win another flag."
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
St Kilda full-back Zac Dawson is expected to return from suspension to face his old side in Hawthorn.
"I'm tipping he would want to play against the Hawks," Saints coach Ross Lyon said.
"He'll give us some inside knowledge, no doubt. He has been a great acquisition to our club."
Monday, 6 July 2009
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon admits star forward Nick Riewoldt might be too courageous for his own good.
Twice Riewoldt charged back with the flight of the ball in Sunday's win over Geelong at Etihad Stadium, once for a mark and resultant goal, but on the second occasion he just avoided being wiped out and was left with a jarred knee.
"That one was a bit straight on for mine and a bit reckless," Lyon said.
"We won't take issue with that, but we'll look to eradicate that."
Saturday, 27 June 2009
While St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has used only 26 players this season, he is mindful not to overlook a group, including Matt Maguire, Sean Dempster and Robert Eddy, delivering consistent form each week with VFL affiliate Sandringham.
"There's not only Matt waiting for opportunities, I've got Armitage and Jack Steven and Raph Clarke in the seconds. So there's a number of players in the same position, Colm Begley another, who are fighting for a spot in the seniors," Lyon said yesterday.
"And I'm on record that, while players keep delivering, I'm not just going to make changes for the sake of it."
Friday, 26 June 2009
St Kilda ruckman Michael Gardiner will play his 150th AFL game this weekend, overcoming questions surrounding his future when he was traded by West Coast to the Saints in 2006.
"He's built a lot of trust here," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.
"He looked me in the eye and said; 'This is what I'm committing to', and he met our senior group and more importantly said; 'This is what I can do and this is the guarantee I can give you'.
"Looking back two-and-a-half years later I think we sit with some satisfaction and some pleasure for Michael that he's been able to deliver on that."
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says defender Matt Maguire is still an important player for the team despite not being able to break into the side.
"He's playing quite good football in the VFL and he's carrying himself well Monday to Friday," he said at Linen House Oval on Friday morning.
"He loves being part of St Kilda and he's continually improving his body after a well documented and horrific injury."
Thursday, 4 June 2009
When Xavier Clarke was worried after learning his season was over, comfort came in the form of a visit from his coach, Ross Lyon.
"Rossy pretty much said to me he would like to have me at the club next year, and as long as he's there he would do pretty much anything he can to keep me at the club," Clarke told Superfooty program Front and Square.
"I think I still have a lot to offer. I'm 25 and I would like to think I have three or four really good years in senior footy."
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Max Hudghton will finally play football this weekend in the VFL.
However, there is no guaranteed fast track back to senior ranks with the Saints being one of the form sides early in 2009.
'We're pretty keen to keep those that are delivering. It's as simple as that, really, and everyone has to bang down the door to get back in. The reality is its no difference for Max,'' St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
St Kilda president Greg Westaway has forecast a more attacking Saints, saying Ross Lyon wants his team to kick two more goals a game than it did in 2008.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has quietly mastered his own version of "Clarko's Cluster", squeezing the life out of opponents in the pre-season.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has told Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball and Lenny Hayes to rise to Ben Cousins playing standards.