AFL 2025: St Kilda coach Ross Lyon ‘really comfortable’ with interchange spray to Hugo Garcia

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon is “really comfortable” with his spray to Hugo Garcia and says he isn’t afraid of coaching with conviction in the future.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says his pointed feedback towards Hugo Garcia on Saturday was an attempt to “spark something” in the sluggish Saints and both he and the young gun were comfortable with the heavily analysed interaction.

Lyon substituted Garcia out of the match during the second quarter and was caught giving the 16-gamer an old-fashioned spray on the interchange.

In his post-match press conference, Lyon said he got to “roll-eye stage” with his players and needed to make a change.

When asked about Garcia at his weekly press conference on Wednesday, Lyon jokingly interjected with “he’s alive, he’s breathing”.

Lyon says there’s not a one-size-fits-all coaching method and is not against revving up his players in the hope they come with him.

“I understand there’s been a lot of noise around it. It’s quite interesting what it’s been labelled and that’s all good,” he said.

Hugo Garcia (left) was subbed out during the second quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

“(Garcia) was like ‘I am no victim, you just coach action’. He’ll play this week, he’s fine.

“He goes ‘if I talk to the media, I’ll tell them the truth. I was playing sh*t’. I said ‘you probably can’t use that word’, (you say) ‘not at your best, Hugo’.

“I hear the noise, everyone can have their view of what coaching is, there’s no place for this and that, there’s no trade base language.

“Sometimes what you are they’ll elevate to. You’re trying to spark something a little bit, it’s all about action.

“I am really comfortable with it, really comfortable, but everyone when they get the job can do it their way.”

Another feature of Lyon’s post-match press conference after the 45-point loss to Brisbane was his engagement with journalists.

He says responding to questions with queries of his own is “a sharp reminder”.

“The one thing I do want to clarify, because this is important … I asked that journalist when she asked ‘what did you think?’ I asked ‘what did you think?’ I certainly wasn’t trying to elicit or embarrass anyone,” he said.

“I thought it was obvious and I thought she nailed the two things. It’s a sharp reminder (to me) just answer the question and don’t engage too much.”

The Saints were set to welcome back Matteas Phillipou from a leg injury but he is now in doubt after sustaining a cork during main training.