AFL 2025: Ross Lyon says St Kilda won’t sell home games, plans to become on and off-field power

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has spoken passionately about his club’s bid to establish themselves as a power club in Victoria, rather than sell home games interstate.

Ross Lyon has a strong stance on clubs that sell home matches. Picture: Getty Images

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says the club will not make the mistake of selling home games interstate as the club strives to re-establish itself as an on and off-field power.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Lyon said the Saints wanted to play more games at the MCG as part of a cotenancy arrangement and legally utilise its influential supporters in the same vein as Geelong’s sponsorship arrangements.

It comes as the Saints prepare blockbuster offers for North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke, Carlton’s Tom De Koning and GWS onballer Finn Callaghan at season’s end.

North Melbourne has struck a deal to play two home games a year at Bunbury in Western Australia, while Melbourne also plays one game a season at Alice Springs.

Luke Davies-Uniacke has a big decision to make this year. Picture: Getty Images

But Lyon said the Saints had made a concerted effort to “focus on footy” under president Andrew Bassat and would not sell-off home games for extra cash.

“Once you start selling your home games interstate you are hanging your shingle out the front that says you are not a serious footy club,” Lyon told the Herald Sun.

“That is what I would say.

“And as one premiership coach told me, once you let your contracted players walk out the door you are hanging your shingle out the front that says come and walk all over us, too.

“We are hanging no shingle out, here (at St Kilda).”

Lyon, 58, was adamant the Saints would be an attractive destination for potential recruits on the back of four drafts which has transformed the young talent on the list.

But they will face a nightmare draw to start the season which includes three interstate trips in the first five weeks, games against three preliminary finalists in the first seven games and six finalists in the first nine.

The Saints need to win to attract talent from rival clubs. Picture: Michael Klein

It came on the back of a fight from president Bassat with the AFL about changing the draft points and academy system to help combat “the state zones” in Queensland and New South Wales.

Lyon said the Saints wanted to fill Marvel Stadium and eventually play more home games at the MCG.

“There was a DVI (draft value index) which was not equitable which has now been changed primarily because our president stamped and pointed out the inequity,” he said.

“When you are a club and you are getting dialled out and you had a soup kitchen (require AFL funding) it is easy to stay quiet, right?

“We don’t want to whinge, but we are going to fight for every inch, whether that be draw or stadia deals.

“We have got to play some good footy to pack-out Marvel.

St Kilda attracted a big crowd for their home MCG clash with Collingwood last year. Picture: Michael Klein

“We are not an MCG tenant yet, but I think Carlton is going to have four games shifted from Marvel (to the MCG), so it shows if you get the crowds and you play good footy anything is possible.”

Lyon said the free agents and trade targets were part of a strategic plan to add more cream.

“You apply discipline and then release your gun powder at the right time,” he said.

“You have got to look after your own first and that is what we will continue to do. The charity begins at home.

“And we have been top quartile in the AFL Players’ Association survey for environment and we are really proud of that – players feeling safe, psychologically safe and supported.

“That is important this year particularly when it can get challenging.

“Free agents need to see winning. Hawthorn became sexy when they started winning.

“Not sure how sexy they were when they were 0-5.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Ross Lyon says St Kilda won’t sell home games, plans to become on and off-field power