St Kilda coach Ross Lyon broke a three-year Twitter silence an hour before his team’s match against Essendon, expressing his frustrations over the conditions at Marvel Stadium. In his tweet, Lyon highlighted the impractical situation where players from both teams were forced to practice on wet grass despite the stadium having a roof that had only been closed shortly before the game.
On a rainy afternoon in Melbourne, Lyon remarked, “How good, Essendon legends game – looking for a Gary Moorcroft goal square hang. Oh no, might be hard. Marvel Stadium did not manage to close the roof before the rain came.” His comments were directed at an Essendon legends match that was being held as a precursor to the main event.
Reports suggest that both St Kilda and Essendon were dissatisfied with the management of the venue, with St Kilda having to contact the AFL officials to request the roof be closed on that day. Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, analysing the situation on Fox Footy’s pre-game show, pointed out that if the game suffered as a result of poor playing conditions—such as slippery turf leading to players struggling to maintain their footing—this would become a major talking point. He asserted, “Whatever the spectacle of this game is, if the skills aren’t great or there are players falling over, it’ll be a point of conversation. It’s something you just shouldn’t get wrong.”
Lyon’s unexpected tweet emphasised his strong feelings on the matter. It’s noteworthy that despite his lengthy absence from social media, his bio still reads “former AFL coach. Current media personality.” His last engagement on the platform occurred in 2022, when he paid tribute to retiring Fremantle player David Mundy.
This incident at Marvel Stadium has sparked a broader discussion regarding the management of sports venues and the implications of operational oversights on player performance and spectator experience. The situation remains a point of contention leading into the highly anticipated matchup.