Ross Lyon says he holds no fear as Fremantle throws full support behind embattled coach
DEFIANT Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he “holds no fears” over the sexual harassment allegations that continue to surround him and he was asked if there were more skeletons to come out.
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DEFIANT Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he “holds no fears” over the sexual harassment allegations that continue to surround him.
Lyon, flanked by Dockers president Dale Alcock and chief executive Steve Rosich, said he wasn’t going anywhere and would instead “dig in”.
“I’ve built a strong reputation over 22 years of coaching in the AFL I’m proud of and I’ll continue to protect it,” Lyon said.
“It’s been hard-fought and hard-earned and I stand by my record.”
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Lyon fronted the media after the Herald Sun on Thursday night revealed the Dockers had referred a second complaint to the AFL’s integrity unit. The club said the man had since withdrawn his complaint.
Asked if there were “any more skeletons to come out” and reminded that this was his chance to come clean, Lyon said: “Clearly, I feel I don’t need to.”
He acknowledged the “hurt” the matter had caused people, but didn’t apologise directly to the woman who was at the centre of the harassment allegations made against him.
“I understand there is a lot of hurt occurring to our club, our members and partners and the wider AFL — in particular my family, the complainant and other people with the allegations being aired,” Lyon said.
“This really saddens me and I’m really sorry to see this.
“Regarding the second allegation that was aired last night, there’s been no complaint lodged and I encourage anyone who has been aggrieved to go through the integrity unit or any official authority where it’s appropriate as this is fair for all concerned.
“For everyone involved and everyone that’s been drawn in. It’s a really difficult situation, but at no stage have I questioned my coaching, my commitment to this club.
“Fremantle has been amazing to me. I think I’ve paid that back in spades, and currently it’s as harmonious an environment with our coaching and player group and that’s an indicator of success around the corner for us.”
Alcock said the Dockers had taken “valuable leanings” out of the controversy and was determined to provide a safe workplace.
“As a proud club this is not where want to be. I apologise to our former employee who was subject of the matter currently in the media,” Alcock said.
“I’m sorry for the stress and duress this matter ... has caused her and the people closest to her.
“The Fremantle Football Club is an organisation committed to the highest standards and to ensuring we provide a supportive and respectful environment for everyone who works at our club and comes into contact with our club.
“It’s really important that if people feel the club and our employees are not held to those standards to do the right thing, that they are able to have the matter investigated by an independent person from the AFL, or if it’s serious, to the relevant authority.
“Everyone has the right to have his or her complaint properly and fully investigated.”
Rosich said the second allegation had been withdrawn.
“The male person contacted me, I suggested he should contact AFL integrity,” Rosich said.
“He subsequently contacted myself, Dale as president, and myself again today to say that he wishes to not take the matter forward.”
PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL:
REPORTER: Ross, how bad has this got for you? Have you ever thought about maybe stepping away during the process, a front-page story, how are you travelling?
Well, as I said, it saddens me which lead to my statement. Not for myself in particular. Obviously there’s a concern there but for everyone involved and everyone that’s been drawn in. It’s a really difficult situation, but at no stage have I questioned my coaching, my commitment to this club. Fremantle has been amazing to me. I think I’ve paid that back in spades, and currently it’s as harmonious an environment with our coaching and player group and that’s an indicator of success around the corner for us.
REPORTER: You say you hold no fears. What do you mean by that?
We’re talking about the allegation that was aired last night. Clearly there’s no complaint. I encourage anyone if they feel aggrieved to go through the official channels.
REPORTER: I suppose people are wondering if there are any more skeletons to come out. This is your chance now to say yes, no.
Clearly I feel I don’t need to.
REPORTER: Have you needed to have changed, over the years, your behaviour towards employees?
All I can say is I’ve coached for 22 years, 12 years as a senior coach and I stand by my record.
REPORTER: Are you confident there will be no further incidents that will come to light?
I can only talk to the issues and allegations at hand. I can’t extrapolate out to the future. I don’t think it’s appropriate. As I said, my reputation over 22 years has been hard fought, hard earnt. But again it applies — anyone in the AFL, any dealing with any AFL club, any dealing with our club f you feel aggrieved there are processes to go through and authorities to go to. We would encourage that. I take criticism personally, there’s a lot of hurt and frustration for all the people I have mentioned, for my family and my club, this club has been incredible to me. I have played my part. I have spoken about that. All parties have committed to privacy so I don’t think I can expand any more than I have. You get rewarded for your investment; I try and deliver for the club. It’s part of the sadness of sitting in a press conference like this.
REPORTER Has the board had any meetings recently and when was the last?
PRESIDENT DALE ALCOCK
The board is absolutely aligned. We have one of the most and arguably the most diverse boards in the AFL. We have nine members of our board, three women and a very strong
depth through community risk, financial, covering all aspects. The board is absolutely aligned on this matter. We have had our regular committee meetings and regular board meetings and any other meetings have been held maybe between several directors where we’re addressing specific things.
REPORTER: To clarify, Lyon has your full backing?
PRESIDENT DALE ALCOCK
Ross is our coach and I answered the question before whether we’d contemplated any change. My answer was no, we hadn’t.
REPORTER: Have you spoken to the woman in the recent weeks or since this came out, suggesting she’s not happy.
CEO STEVE ROSICH
We haven’t been able to speak directly but again confidentiality is assured and we’ve been talking regularly via AFL integrity and also legal representatives.
REPORTER: The chairman mentioned leanings. What are the learnings do you think?
CEO STEVE ROSICH
Sure, thanks. We’re a club that’s committed to the highest standards and we instigated with the AFL integrity unit their feedback on the process that we have just been through with them over the earlier months of this year to make sure that if those types of matters, if we had to go through that process again, that we’re even better prepared for next time. We’re conducting training sessions with key staff as Dale outlined in his
statement earlier today. That will include all staff at a future point in time regarding the respect and responsibility policy and how we prevent those matters and also assist people in dealing with those matters if they do arise. We’re also proud of the women’s leadership program that we instigated some time ago, and a review of our workplace
entitlements which will go to the board later this month. And really proud of the leanings we continue to have with such a diverse working group. We have significantly increased our female staff, more senior women in our organisation and the leanings have having an AFLW operation which we’ve been proud and lucky enough to have over the last
two years.
REPORTER: The concerns that were brought forward in the last week, what were they?
CEO STEVE ROSICH
I guess in respect to that, and it was plead clear in the statement, firstly the male person contacted me. I suggested he should contact AFL integrity. He then subsequently contacted myself, deal as — Dale as President and myself again today to say he wishes
not to take any matter forward and with respect to that claim, as it was alleged, that’s obviously confidential. But if that person or any other party want to take matters forward to the appropriate authority to they’re welcome to do that. Dale’s made that clear today.
REPORTER: The statement says that complaint was against your senior coach Ross Lyon.
CEO STEVE ROSICH
You were you willing to identify him as being at the centre of this most recent allegation and not in the first incident?
Two very different situations. Can I just say with respect to the previous matter, Ross outlined it this morning — this afternoon. The President referred to
it in his statement last night and again today. It’s a confidential matter, has been resolved with the AFL by the AFL integrity unit. That confidentiality was requested by all parties including the complainant.
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