By Peter Ryan and Jon Pierik
Suns boss takes aim at Lyon
Jon Pierik
Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans has delivered a stinging response to St Kilda, declaring Ross Lyon’s “AFL nepo baby” jibe was offensive and out of line.
Touk Miller was characteristically busy against St Kilda.Credit: Getty Images
Tensions between the Saints and Suns exploded on Monday, after Lyon lit the fuse with his pre-game comments about the Suns, who went on to enjoy a gritty 19-point win over his men on a dark day for the Saints.
Asked before the bounce about the looming tactical battle with Hardwick, Lyon told Fox Footy: “I’m a little bit concerned. They’re choc-full of talent aren’t they, the AFL nepo baby?”
Lyon’s comments were in relation to the draft concessions and access to next generation academy talent the Suns – yet to play finals – have enjoyed.
Evans, speaking on SEN on Monday, fired back at Lyon, and even pointed to the priority picks the Saints were given in the 2000 and 2001 national drafts to secure Nick Riewoldt and Luke Ball.
“I thought the comments were offensive and out of order. Offensive in that it implies corruption and favouritism. That really stabs at the club’s hard work over a lot of years,” Evans said.
“We haven’t always had the best history at stuff. We lost a lot of players, we had to rebuild. We knew we were going to reset through the draft. There was a lot of hard work to get to a position where we finally have had some wins at the front end of the season.
“I think it would be like saying, Ross is an outstanding coach, St Kilda have had some good moments in their history, grand final in [2009 and 2010], it would be like me getting up and saying: ‘The only reason they made the grand final was because they were gifted [Nick] Riewoldt and [Luke] Ball and [Justin] Koschitzke’.
“There is so much work that goes into getting to that stage. Imagine belittling the club that was just gifted them, so we found it offensive and out of order. It’s unusual in a pre-game interview. It’s hard to see those words would just fall out at the particular time, so we didn’t like it.”
Evans said he had already expressed his displeasure to his Saints counterpart Carl Dilena.
“Carl Dilena and I passed each other in the corridors yesterday, and I was walking along with him for 20 or 30 metres. I am not sure whether he had heard the comments by that stage, but I told him we thought they were offensive. He didn’t offer up much at that point of time,” Evans said.
“We don’t really care, we get a lot of things said about us, as does every club, we are not so worried about that. But this seems like a whinge that was out of order, and we want to stand up for our club.”
The Saints – struggling to lure blue-chip talent from rival clubs but firmly in the running for off-contract Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning – were contacted for comment on Monday.
Lyon’s comment was delivered with a laugh, but Hardwick certainly didn’t see the funny side.
“It’s a little bit disrespectful. Trust me, I’ve been at Richmond, and then I’ve come to the Gold Coast; we don’t get a lot,” Hardwick said.
“What St Kilda should do is make sure they focus on their own backyard instead of trying to bring everyone else down.”
Hardwick also fired a shot at St Kilda, pointing out the low attendance figure of 13,486.
It was the Saints’ smallest crowd at Marvel Stadium and lowest attendance at a home game in Melbourne since 2002.
“They had 13,000 people here today,” Hardwick said.
“We’ll just focus on Gold Coast, and they should focus on themselves.”
Lyon wasn’t overly concerned about the low attendance figure, putting it down to several factors.
“I don’t think it’s my brief, but timeslot, interstate [opponent], low membership/following, expansion club, our performance against West Coast the week before – I think it all goes into the melting pot,” Lyon said.
Hardwick entered the contest with a horror 1-9-1 record as a coach at Marvel Stadium since his infamous declaration – when in charge of Richmond four years ago – that he hated playing there.
The Suns had a win, but Mac Andrew was a casualty.Credit: Getty Images
But Suns captain Noah Anderson (36 disposals, 11 clearances) and former skipper Touk Miller (30 touches, one goal) helped ensure the latest visit had a happy ending. Ben Long kicked three majors against his former team, while Sam Collins marshalled the Gold Coast defence.
The only sour note for the Suns was a right ankle injury to Mac Andrew, who limped off with five minutes left in his 50th game.
Hardwick’s men have two further games at Marvel this season – against Essendon in round 17 and Carlton in round 22 – which could have a huge bearing on their top-four aspirations.
Nasaiah Wanganeen-Milera had a career-high 35 disposals and one goal for the Saints. Jack Steele (33 touches, one goal) and Jack Sinclair (29, one) were also busy.
It meant Gold Coast moved to 8-2 for the first time in their 15-year history and maintained third spot on the ladder in pursuit of a maiden finals berth. The Saints’ finals hopes are hanging by a thread.
with AAP
Pickett lifts Dees back into contention
Peter Ryan
A reinvented Melbourne have emerged as serious finals contenders as Kysaiah Pickett led them to a brilliant 53-point victory over Sydney with an electrifying five goal performance in Sir Doug Nicholls round.
A modest Pickett played down his performance post-game saying he can only play well if the team plays well.
Kysaiah Pickett sparked Melbourne with five goals against Sydney.Credit: Getty Images
“I think the team was on fire to be honest,” Pickett said.
The victory completed back-to-back wins over last year’s grand finalists for Melbourne, which is starting to play the type of football premiership coach Simon Goodwin promised ahead of the season.
They kicked their highest score since round seven, 2023, building their game off defensive pressure that saw them lay 89 tackles and win the contested possession count by 27.
“The belief is certainly building but we are not going to change our process away from not talking about outcome. It’s just not helpful to anyone,” Goodwin said.
Pickett weaves past Sydney’s would-be tacklers.Credit: Getty Images
Goodwin was rapt the team persisted after the first half was littered with missed opportunity.
“That’s a sign of real resilience and grit within your team that they can deal with some disappointment and they can keep playing a certain way,” Goodwin said. ’That was the bit that I was so happy about today; that they were able to play with the same mindset, the same approach irrespective of the scoreboard.”
By contrast, Sydney look a long way off playing finals and could be without their skipper Callum Mills, who will be under scrutiny for jumping and collecting Demons forward Charlie Spargo head high.
Spargo was subbed out of the game but cleared of concussion after the umpires stopped the game to ensure he was examined. It was Mills’ first game for the season and might be his last for a few weeks, with the Swans heading for just their sixth non-appearance in finals since 2000.
Their coach Dean Cox was unsparing in his criticism of the performance.
“No matter where you are, whatever position you are in, you fight to the end,” Cox said. He said his team was too inconsistent and the onus rested on the leaders to set the right example.
But the focus will be on Melbourne, who have now won five of their past six games and have scored more than 83 points in each of those wins to breathe life into a campaign that was on life support when they started their season with five losses.
Pickett was the difference between the two teams as he converted opportunities into goals more often than not – he kicked 5.4 – a bag which included a wayward torpedo and two posters. He laughed at his ambitious torpedo attempt that flew off the side of his boot before coming up with an explanation.
Christian Petracca is chaired off after a victory in his 200th AFL game.Credit: Getty Images
“As soon as I was too far out I thought of Uncle Byron (dual premiership player Byron Pickett) and just wanted to try to do a barrel,” he said. He also had 13 score involvements and six clearances.
Inside 50 metres, Pickett was harder to catch than an untied balloon losing air, his performance receiving a standing ovation when he ran to the bench after his fifth goal midway through the third quarter. “It gives you goosebumps when you are running off,” Pickett said.
Melbourne president Brad Green might have been ambitious when he said in the off-season that the Demons would need two or three first round picks to even consider trading Pickett, but those at the MCG on Sunday could be forgiven for thinking that was unders. Three Brownlow votes won’t quite do his performance justice.
But it wasn’t only Pickett – who was wearing the Demons’ Indigenous jumper designed by his father Kevin Kropinyeri – who played well. Ten players kicked goals for Melbourne, who brought up the ton midway through the last quarter despite being inaccurate in front of goal.
It was a dark day for Swans skipper Callum Mills and his team.Credit: Getty Images
Earlier, before Pickett kicked a goal from the boundary line, they had kicked 7.13 and were in danger of keeping Sydney in the game with their inaccuracy.
Max Gawn was again brilliant, setting the tone with a stoppage snap goal within the first five minutes, and Christian Petracca was dangerous in his 200th game. Post-game Petracca told Fox Footy “defence creates opportunities”.
The Melbourne fans also showed their love for Clayton Oliver, who – left more to his own devices after having run-with roles the past two weeks – played well. When he left the ground to cheers after a last-quarter goal, it would have been apt for John Paul Young to come out of the dugout to sing Love is in the Air. Unfortunately for the Swans, JPY would have needed to follow up with Yesterday’s Heroes to mark their bleak return to the MCG after last year’s grand final embarrassment.
Crows too good for Eagles
All-Australian forward Jake Waterman was taken to hospital after dislocating his right shoulder in West Coast’s 66-point loss to the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
In a match played in a swirling breeze, Adelaide led by just four points midway through the second quarter before piling on 10 of the next 12 goals to set up the 19.14 (128) to 8.14 (62) win.
Josh Rachele cashed in with five goals, while Jordan Dawson tallied 27 disposals, eight clearances, two goals and 602m gained in a best-afield display on Sunday.
Tempers boiled over in the dying minutes when Eagles recruit Liam Baker pushed his forearm into the back of James Peatling’s neck while the Crow was face-down on the ground.
The incident sparked a major melee that is sure to attract plenty of fines.
The percentage-boosting result ensured Adelaide (7-4) will finish the round in the top four, while West Coast (1-10) couldn’t reproduce the heroics from last week’s breakthrough win over St Kilda.
Adding to West Coast’s woes was a serious injury to Waterman, whose right shoulder popped out when he was sandwiched in a final-quarter marking contest. Waterman had been a rare shining light for West Coast with three goals, but his season could be over if he requires surgery.
– AAP
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