Ross Lyon joins chorus of coaches openly criticising AFL over fines and penalties

AFL players have been fined nearly $500,000 so far in 2025 and the coaches have had enough, with a growing chorus calling out a broken system.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says fines are not the solution to solve player discipline as coaches continue to react to an increase in monetary sanctions that is nearing $1m across recent seasons.

The tally for fines in 2025 alone is closing in on $500,000 through 17 rounds, with 37 players fined $49,250 in round 16.

In the wake of an AFL crackdown on umpire contact this week, which could lead to increased fines or even suspensions, Essendon coach Brad Scott labelled the fine situation as “outrageous” and Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick questioned how a change could be made mid-season.

The AFL Players Association also called for a “forum” to review the entire match review and tribunal system.

“The AFLPA wrote to the AFL weeks ago to request a forum where the players can sit down and genuinely discuss these issues holistically with the AFL,” AFLPA chief executive Ben Smith said.

“These fines aren’t proportionate to the acts committed.

“It’s evident to the AFLPA and players that the current MRO and tribunal system is not working and needs to be reviewed and revised, and we look forward to being a part of that process.”

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon doesn’t like fines. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

St Kilda great and assistant coach, Robert Harvey, met with the umpires last week to help his club navigate the increasingly dicey waters, but Lyon declared just increasing fines was not a way to curb player behaviour.

“I don’t think fines are the solution on anything,” he said on Thursday,

“I don’t think I’ve ever fined a player in my life to get a decision or an action. Ultimately, it’s all about education and setting a framework.

“Most of (umpire contact) occurs in the centre bounce. The debate from players and midfield coaches with the umpiring fraternity is what’s the right exit and protected area. If the principle is, and we know it is, umpire health and safety, it’s the right thing to be doing.

“But it’s just finding the right solution.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has defended the umpire contact crackdown. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images

AFL boss Andrew Dillon defended the crackdown and said it was merely reinforcing existing rules.

“There hasn’t been a change in policy,” he said.

“This was something that’s part of the tribunal guidelines that if there’s multiple financial sanctions we can refer it to the tribunal.

“We wrote to the clubs at the start of the year and in again in April advising them we may do that, just to put the players on notice.

“We haven’t seen a change in player behaviour, so I advised the club CEOs at a meeting on Tuesday. All the CEOs completely understood the situation.

“What we want to do is avoid the contact where its avoidable. We know it can be done.”

Originally published as Ross Lyon joins chorus of coaches openly criticising AFL over fines and penalties