St Kilda coach Ross Lyon denies club tension amid form slump

Ross Lyon was a saviour earlier in his return season as St Kilda coach, but a run of losses has put his relationship with club staff in the spotlight.

Ross Lyon says it’s on him to drag St Kilda out of their slump. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has denied any rift with senior figures at the club but concedes some people are “uncomfortable” with change as he tries to transform the Saints and help them find they way out of a form slump

St Kilda made a 5-1 start to the season but only sits inside the top eight on percentage after winning just three of its last 10 games.

The form slump sparked reports of tension between renowned hard task master Lyon and Saints chief executive Simon Lethlean.

But the coach insisted the pair remained on good terms while conceding adjustments had to be made that could impact people in different ways.

“From my end and Simon’s end, we’re fine … I haven’t had one raised word with Simon since I’ve been here, or Simon with me, to be truthful,” Lyon said.

“Clearly, I’m transitioning into the club – there’s been a lot of new regime … things are done differently, and there’s changes and teams are disbanded.

There are no issues between St Kilda chief executive Simon Lethlean and coach Ross Lyon, the latter says. Picture: Michael Klein

“There’s been some change, and with change I wouldn’t say there’s unhappiness but sometimes not everyone is comfortable with change.”

Lyon, who was furious after the Saints’ 26-point loss away to Gold Coast on Saturday, said their issues with ball movement were a “conundrum” for the coaching group.

He said he was frustrated by the Saints’ continued inability to take their chances in attack, but their lack of progress offensively was not affecting the environment and it was his responsibility to lift as senior coach and find a solution for their inefficiency in the forward half.

“We’re a conundrum because we’ve moved the ball really well typically all year from one end of the ground to the other, so I don’t think we’re stodgy in that respect,” he said.

“All year, even when we were seventh or eighth for attack we were 18th for efficiency of scoring.”

Lyon said forwards Jack Higgins (knee) and Jack Billings (thumb) would return to face North Melbourne on Sunday, but Zaine Cordy would “struggle” to exit the concussion protocols this week and was unlikely to return.

Last year’s SSP revelation Jack Hayes is in the frame for his first game of the season after playing in a VFL scratch match last week, but Tom Campbell may play if the Saints decide Hayes needs another week at the lower level to regain match fitness.