AFL 2024: Ross Lyon says final games will influence St Kilda contract decisions

Carlton faces a major threat in round 24 with a number of uncontracted St Kilda veterans told to play for their careers.

Experienced midfielder Zak Jones (left) has been a major part of St Kilda’s resurgence in the final two months of the season. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says “everything counts” as a host of senior Saints without contracts for next season continue to fight for their AFL careers.

Lyon said he could only laugh at suggestions the Saints’ final games were meaningless as he indicated performances against Carlton next Sunday would hold important weight in the club’s list management decisions.

Out-of-contract trio Tim Membrey (30), Mason Wood (30) and Zak Jones (29) were all significant contributors against Geelong on Saturday night and have maintained strong form through a seven-game stretch which has yielded five wins.

Lyon said there was plenty on the line for those players in the final rounds as he revealed 31-year-old defender Jimmy Webster had a contract in front of him to play on next season.

St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster (left) is set to sign a deal to continue in 2025 while Mason Wood (right) is among senior players still out of contract. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

Seb Ross, 31, remains without a deal and is unlikely to face the Blues as he pushes to return from a calf injury which has sidelined him since round 14.

“Yeah, everything counts, Jimmy (Webster) has signed. Everything counts, every time you roll up, we all get judged, right? That’s why I laugh when everyone says ‘there’s not much to play for’,” Lyon said after the 18-point win over the Cats.

“I was a bit cheeky, but (when people asked) are you experimenting, I wouldn’t have thought so.

“We’ve got a huge responsibility to our members, our fans, our sponsors, to be a serious footy club and improve.

“I’m not really here to talk about list management, but every moment counts, we all get judged all the time.”

Lyon said he was pleased by the display of “good footy character”, particularly from senior on-ballers including Rowan Marshall and captain Jack Steele, to overcome a 33-point halftime deficit.

He also broke from his usual reluctance to single out young players to acknowledge a “breakout game” from speedster Darcy Wilson, who had 25 disposals and kicked 2.3.

“I said to the group at halftime, ‘I really believe in you, and trust me, we’re in better shape if, and it’s a big if, by the way, if you can fix this stuff’,” Lyon said.

“I was pleased with how we continued to give effort and concentrate and try to improve our footy against what is a pretty good team.

Lyon says St Kilda midfield coach Robert Harvey told him Darcy Wilson’s performance against Geelong had been a ‘breakout game’. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“It was a little bit solution-based, but it was also, ‘the team needs you to lift’, and to their credit, they lifted.

“When you challenge people, they need to respond, and they responded – that shows good footy character.”

Lyon said he felt like the Saints were “getting there” when it came to becoming a consistent force, but felt it was “probably a bit late” in the season.

A win over the Blues next Sunday would leave them with an 11-12 record, with four of those defeats by less than a kick and two more by 10 points or less.

“It’s a long, hard year for everybody. We were frustrated, what are we, 10 wins? It’s important to just set foundations of competing, and improvement and effort,” Lyon said.

“And I thought we can tick that box. What it means in the greater scheme of where our list is at, I’m not too sure, but I’d rather do that than not.”

Lyon said he would watch Sandringham in the VFL on Sunday before deciding who would replace Anthony Caminiti, with the key forward to miss the Blues clash after aggravating his injured shoulder during the final quarter on Saturday night.

He said Brad Hill was subbed out because he “stiffened up in the back” but Irish Cat Oisin Mullin’s successful tagging role had played a part in the decision.