St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says coaches have ‘got no muscle’ in the fight against AFL over soft cap

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has joined his counterparts over the soft cap issue but has accepted the reality of winning the battle against the AFL.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has joined the chorus of coaches fearing for the AFL’s future under the slashed soft cap but suggested the coaching cohort was a “paper tiger”.

Lyon was asked to weigh in after Essendon coach Brad Scott lit the fiery discussion on Tuesday.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae was the first to back Scott, declaring it had reached “boiling point”.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and Melbourne’s Simon Goodwin followed suit on Thursday.

Lyon agreed it was a concern but cast doubt over impending change, calling the coaching fraternity a “paper tiger” with “no muscle”.

“It’s not just about the coaches, I’d really make that point, it’s our football department,” he said.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says coaches won’t beat the AFL in the soft cap fight. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It’s our sport science, our physio, our doctors, our psychs – Tony Brown PDM (player development manager) – all of that that goes to supporting and developing players to put them on (the ground).

“I am certainly not an activist because in the end head office will do what they do, right?

“There’s an AFL Coaches’ Association and they’re really good people, but we’re a paper tiger, we’ve got no muscle, have we? If we had muscle do you reckon we’d be 1.5 (million) down on the soft cap? I wouldn’t have thought so because we’d strike.

“We’re a paper tiger but hopefully the respect for what everyone in football contributes to the financial health of the competition, it’s just illogical to think they’re still 1.5 under.”

Essendon coach Brad Scott (left) lit the discussion on Tuesday. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Scott’s labelling of the coaching group as “disenfranchised” prompted AFL general manager Laura Kane to reach out.

Lyon said he would talk to Kane about the soft cap and backed Scott but wouldn’t “be an activist” for the issue.

“I talk to anyone, I even talk to the press these days,” he said.

“I really worry about the next wave of coaches and PDM, you’ve got to work at it, develop your craft, but even PDM funding is down.

“I get it, I hear what’s been put up, I am supportive of what Brad said, but I am not going to be an activist. I haven’t got time or the inclination, not my problem.”

Originally published as St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says coaches have ‘got no muscle’ in the fight against AFL over soft cap