St Kilda’s Brad Hill has openly supported his coach, Ross Lyon, amidst controversy surrounding a comment Lyon made during a training session earlier this year. Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson revealed on Seven’s Agenda Setters that Lyon’s remark caused distress among some Indigenous players, prompting Lyon to offer his resignation if they felt it necessary.
The incident occurred when Lyon mentioned, "I love the brother boy connection, but we all have to remember we are part of a bigger team here," while three Indigenous players were involved in a drill. Hill, a seasoned Indigenous player, later reached out to Lyon to discuss how this comment could be perceived as racist.
In response, Lyon convened an impromptu team meeting on what was intended to be a day off. Reportedly emotional, he clarified that he did not intend the remark in a racially insensitive manner and expressed his willingness to resign if it was deemed appropriate by the players.
In a statement to Wilson, Lyon acknowledged his misjudgment. He remarked, “I’m not here to justify or try to rationalise what I said," and recognised the potential for his words to convey casual racism. He accepted full responsibility: "It didn’t land where it should have landed and I have to wear that."
Hill expressed frustration that the issue was being publicised, sharing his feelings on social media with a photo of himself alongside Lyon and teammate Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, captioning it, "Sorry Caro (Wilson) but we love Ross." He tagged additional teammates, demonstrating unity within the group.
Ross Lyon, now in his second stint as head coach of St Kilda, has been in the role since 2023 and brings almost two decades of coaching experience in the AFL. Currently, St Kilda sits in 12th place on the ladder, with three wins to their name this season. The team is set to compete against Carlton next on Saturday night.