Ross Lyon sells virtues of St Kilda as a destination club for the league’s best players with finals out of reach

St Kilda probably won’t play finals in 2024 and in a bid to boost the list with some big-name signings, coach Ross Lyon explained why they should come.

Ross Lyon says players can be successful at St Kilda. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon is adamant his club can still be an attractive proposition for enticing elite players from other teams despite a downturn in form this season after making finals in 2023, revealing his troops have some of the lowest contact hours for players in the AFL.

The Saints are 15th with just four wins from 12 games this season with critics pointing to midfield depth as a key area to boost.

Having missed out on luring the likes of Collingwood star Jordan de Goey to Moorabbin, Lyon turned salesman on Thursday and painted a picture of a club being set up for a decade of success listing a series of stars who have recommitted to the Saints.

Lyon said the rebuild Brisbane did during a lean run helped net players like Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, who helped take the Lions to the grand final last year, and while winning was important, “it’s not everything” in selling the virtues of his club.

“Our environment is pretty important. We’d like to think we give them a lot of time off,” he said.

Ross Lyon is sold on St Kilda. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“They get 3½ days a week off, so it’s 16 hours in and game day, I think that’s as healthy as anyone in the comp.

“So when they are in here, keep it sharp, keep it balanced. Our players would say win or loss my demeanour hasn’t changed, that’s really important to us.

“And seeing the upside, we played finals last year with a lot of young players and we have some really good senior players committed like (Callum) Wilkie and (Rohan) Marshall and (Jack) Sinclair and some rising stars.

“(Max) King is only 23, 24 and is going to be a star of the comp. We feel like we have a lot going for us.

That’s all part of the mix, and it filters out there, people recommitting and signing. I feel like I just put a brochure together.”

After AFL footy boss Laura Kane said she and the league were “comfortable” with the handling of Marshall’s head knock against West Coast, when the doctor unsuccessfully tried to stop play to assess the St Kilda ruckman, Lyon said it was clear the medicos should be the “ambulance”.

“The doctor is the ambulance isn’t he? I know they are getting to the review, but she reiterated that doctors have right of way … to me that’s pretty black and white,” he said.

“Stuff happens, you move on, you review, it’s like us. Do a review, learn. All parties had great intentions. Try and improve the process.”