AFL TV wrap: Ross Lyon’s coaching successor named, $40k fines for illegal boots and Will Day’s return date

Ross Lyon’s successor at St Kilda has been earmarked, while Will Day sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. Plus the $40,000 warning sent to AFL clubs. The full TV wrap here.

The name of Ross Lyon’s successor has reportedly been circled at Moorabbin.

And Will Day is ready to ramp up his training loads.

Plus, what should the AFL do with Waverley Park?

There was plenty to discuss on Tuesday night’s footy shows - break down the best of the coverage here.

‘ELITE UMPIRING’ A CHANCE AFTER WAVERLEY PARK PURCHASE

Retired umpire Ray Chamberlain is hoping Waverley Park becomes an elite umpiring facility, with the industry desperately needing improvements to the current set up.

The AFL confirmed the purchase of the storied ground, having sold the facility to Hawthorn back in 2004.

With the league set to relocate the umpiring program to Waverley, Chamberlain said it was a huge step towards “elite umpiring”.

Waverley Park is in the hands of the AFL again

“It’s a fantastic surface … they’ve got great facilities in there, the guts of it is there above and beyond anything the umpires have historically seen,” he said on AFL 360.

“It’s certainly a great step in the right direction if that turns out to be the home for AFL elite umpiring programs.

“I don’t think Adele holds a concert out there so the boys should be able to get through summer without being interrupted and I think that all goes for them being able to bed down their program.

“Everything that umpiring would require on any given day would be able to be accessed at that facility, it just removes hurdles that don’t need to be there.

“(It’s a) step closer to elite umpiring.”

LIFE AFTER ROSS? NEXT SAINTS BOSS EARMARKED

St Kilda could be planning for life after Ross Lyon, with Channel 9 chief football reporter Tom Morris reporting Corey Enright has been earmarked as the coaching successor.

Enright has been heavily involved in elite coaching pathways since retiring as a three-time premiership player at Geelong, having spent five years as an assistant coach at the Cats before moving to Moorabbin ahead of the 2022 season.

He was an assistant coach under Lyon for three years, but was promoted to the club’s head of game plan and strategy for this year.

Morris said on Channel 9 the club could be planning a handover in the coming years.

Corey Enright is reportedly in the sights of St Kilda as a Ross Lyon successor. Picture: Michael Klein

“St Kilda has unofficially earmarked Enright to succeed Ross Lyon when the time comes that Lyon steps away,” he said.

“This likelihood has been discussed among players, among football staff, and even noted in discussions from Ross Lyon himself.

“It wouldn’t surprise some inside of Moorabbin if a handover was formalised sometime before the end of the coach’s tenure in 2027.

“The only issue for St Kilda is if a vacancy pops up elsewhere, especially at Geelong where Chris Scott has a deal until the end of next year.

“And that, like what happened with Sam Mitchell and Hawthorn, might be hard for the Saints to say no to.”

RETURNING DAY CIRCLED ON CALENDAR

Hawthorn star Will Day says he is closing in on a return to football, reaching an important milestone in his rehabilitation.

Day has been sidelined for most of 2025 after his second navicular injury which prompted surgery.

He said he was ready to increase his training loads, with a return to group training on the agenda.

“Tracking really well, (I) had a good session (Tuesday), just getting the running up and going and obviously the goal is that when I do get back to be as fit as I can,” he said on AFL 360.

“Aiming to get into a bit of training next week and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel which is really pleasing.

“If I can get a handful of games in by the time the regular season’s finished then I’m pretty happy.”

Will Day is aiming for a late-season return. Picture: Steve Bell

Day said he was pain-free and the medical team was not rushing him back and risking further injury.

“There’s constant chats between me and the medical team, we’re probably not always on the same page, naturally I’m trying to get back as quick as I can.

“At the same time I know the severity of the injury, because this is the second time I’ve done it, I completely respect my medical team as well.

“(Being pain free is) the really pleasing thing for me, but it’s also a bit frustrating because I think I can be taking some quicker steps, but as I said our medical team is one of the best in the AFL so we’re really happy where we’re at.”

He remains 5-7 weeks away from a return to football.

LOWBALL DRAPER OFFER OPENS DOOR TO RIVAL

Sam Draper is canvassing a potential move out of Essendon after a lowball offer, according to Cal Twomey on Footy Classified.

The AFL.com.au reporter said the Bombers had offered a four-year deal to the injured ruck worth about $700,000 per season, which is “not quite the level he expected”.

“It has opened the door for the Adelaide and the Brisbane interest and offers,” he said on Footy Classified.

“I think at the start of the year Sam Draper was set on staying at Essendon. He got injured, he’s had time to think about it, the offers come through.

“It has to be a $900,000 deal over five years (to get first-round compensation), my understanding is it’d be around the sevens ($700,000 per season).”

AFL ISSUES $40k WARNING OVER ILLEGAL STUDS

The AFL has cleared Carlton defender Jack Silvagni after his boots left a deep cut on Jack Darling’s lower leg.

The Kangaroos forward played out the game without major discomfort before having the wound stitched after the clash and remains a test to face Hawthorn in round 16.

It was revealed on Agenda Setters the AFL had sent a memo to clubs over the prohibition of metal studs on boots, but curiously the memo was sent weeks before the incident.

“This is a timely reminder regarding the type of football boots which may be worn in AFL matches, specifically the prohibition of metal stops, which pose a serious risk of injury to players,” the statement read.

Blood seeps through Jack Darling’s socks after cutting his leg open against Carlton. Picture: James Wiltshire

“To prioritise player safety, the AFL strictly enforces Regulations that prohibit the use of metal stops or studs on football boots.

“As such, it is the responsibility of all AFL Clubs and players to ensure that boots worn during matches fully comply with these rules.

“Under AFL Regulation 4.8, Clubs may be sanctioned up to 40 Units (equivalent to $40,000) per breach.”

Caroline Wilson said on Agenda Setters that umpires don’t check boots before the game anymore, however clubs were aware of the potential $40,000 fine they were facing.

“(There was) a big conversation between the AFL bench and the Carlton bench,” she said.

“Jack Silvagni has been cleared (of breaching the regulations), he was wearing legal boots.

“The coaches also say this is happening more and more, horrible injuries from boots.”

SAINTS ‘90%’ CONFIDENT IN SECURING STAR

St Kilda is “90 per cent” confident of landing Carlton ruck Tom De Koning, according to Agenda Setters’ panellist Caroline Wilson.

De Koning is a free agent at the end of the year and is facing a fight for his services, with the Saints offering $1.7 million per season to move to Moorabbin.

Carlton has less room in its salary cap and can only offer about $1.1 million per year, meaning De Koning would sacrifice as much as $4 million over the life of a seven-year contract.

Tom De Koning during training. Picture:David Caird

Wilson said St Kilda was growing in confidence in landing De Koning and keeping Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who is weighing up his future at the club.

“(There has been) no meeting between the St Kilda camp and Nasiah’s camp (Ben Williams from Players Ink),” she said.

“My understanding is there is going to be a meeting in the coming days.

“If the manager is prepared to talk terms and money … then St Kilda will be pretty confident.

“They think they’re in the box seat.

“They’re more confident of getting the big bloke from Carlton, I think Tom De Koning is 90 per cent now going to St Kilda.

“St Kilda are quite happy with the way those negotiations are going and they’re rapt with Tom De Koning.”

Originally published as AFL TV wrap: Ross Lyon’s coaching successor named, $40k fines for illegal boots and Will Day’s return date