St Kilda Coach Ross Lyon Receives Support After Casual Racism Remark
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has received backing from his club’s chief executive and Indigenous players following a comment made at training earlier this month that caused offence. The incident involved Lyon referring to a group of Indigenous players with the phrase “brother-boy connection,” which was perceived as casual racism by some players.
Incident and Response
The comment was made when three Indigenous players lined up together for a drill. Lyon said, “I love the brother-boy connection, but we all have to remember, we are part of the bigger team here.” The players raised their concerns with Lyon the next day, and the matter was addressed internally within the club.
The issue became public when journalist Caroline Wilson discussed it on Channel Seven. Lyon acknowledged his mistake, describing it as an unintentional error and saying he had misjudged the moment. He told Wilson, “Was I being flippant? Could it be described as casual racism? I learned a lot out of what happened. It didn’t land where it should have landed, and I have to wear that, and I take full responsibility for what I said.”
When speaking to the media at training, Lyon emphasized the importance of culture and behaviour. He said, “I made an error unintentionally, resolved it with my players and I’m thankful for their support.”
Club’s Perspective and Outcome
St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena described the comment as a “pretty innocent oversight” that caused no harm but highlighted the importance of understanding how comments are received. He said, “It is very challenging, and as we’ve seen in various instances, it’s how it’s received more so than how it’s delivered. That’s always the challenge with casual racism or unconscious bias.”
Lyon reportedly was emotional and offered to consider his position as senior coach during discussions with players including Bradley Hill and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, one of the Indigenous players involved. Dilena only became aware of the matter publicly on Monday night but expressed satisfaction with how it was handled.
He noted that the situation demonstrated a safe environment within the club where First Nations players felt comfortable raising concerns and resolving the issue harmoniously. “They just sorted it out between themselves like any mishap and it was a positive outcome,” Dilena said.
St Kilda currently sits 12th on the AFL ladder after seven games. Ross Lyon, aged 59, is in his second stint as the club’s coach, having returned to the role in 2023.