AFL coach bakes ‘nuffy' journo as St Kilda crisis addressed

News.com.au

4 days ago

Ross Lyon has hit out at reports of unrest at St Kilda as the club's dressing room dramas took another turn on Tuesday night.
The Saints coach singled out a report from Adelaide-based veteran journalist Michelangelo Rucci, who had earlier set the rumour mill ablaze surrounding the future of several senior players at the club.
Rucci reported on SEN SA that star defender Cal Wilkie, captain Jack Steele, midfielder Marcus Windhager and ruckman Rowan Marshall could be part of a mass exodus at the end of the 2025 season.
That was quickly followed by the bombshell suggestion from Essendon legend Tim Watson that the Saints were preparing a $25 million offer to bring West Coast star Harley Reid to the club on a 12-year-deal.
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With the Saints already breaking the bank to bring Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning to the club on a rich deal previously reported to have been worth up to $1.7 million per-season and with superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera set to offered a monster deal worth around $1.4 million, there does not appear to be much left in the kitty.
GWS 22-gamer Leek Aleer is also reportedly set to move to the Moorabbin-based club.
Fox Footy on Tuesday night added details to the dramas at St Kilda with leading journalist Jon Ralph reporting there are fears Steele will be part of the 'collateral damage' of the club's list management moves.
Speaking on Fox Footy's mid-week tackle, Ralph said: 'It's not a player exodus just yet, but it's a state of affairs that certainly impacts the club's captain in Jack Steele, and it's vice-captain Cal Wilkie.
'There's multiple players on the brink of considering leaving a club that needs to bring in talent, not lose it.
'Senior players are worried that Jack Steele will be part of the collateral damage. This is a club that is making massive offers to the likes of Tom De Koning, Leek Aleer and Harley Reid. They just need to clear cap space.'
He said he does not expect Wilkie to leave at the end of the season, but said there has been some bewilderment from Wilkie's camp when it learned of the money the club is preparing to throw elsewhere.
With all that swirling in the background, Lyon said on Channel 9's Footy Classified that Rucci's report about Wilkie was 'half-baked'.
'6.30 tonight (Tuesday), in my car, in my driveway, (Wilkie said): 'Ross I've never entertained going anywhere else, I love St Kilda, I love what we're doing',' Lyon said.
'There's a lot of half-baked stories, that's what I see.
'I heard the (Michaelangelo) Rucci stuff, I listened to it. I thought it was two old blokes having a beer and a barbecue in the backyard.
'There was no substance, no rigour, I said 'Ruc, you send me postcards from Italy herding the sheep and counting the sheep.
'To be honest, you're a Port Adelaide nuffy, let's move on.
'Does he write content for the Port Adelaide SANFL club, is he a mad Port Adelaide, are they trying to get us into a bit of turmoil?
'It's all part of the theatre, it's all part of feeding the chooks.
'I hear the noise about contracted players... I would think contracted players are at your club unless you decide otherwise.'
Lyon also addressed reports about the club's interest in Harley Reid, curiously suggesting West Coast officials are frustrated by Reid's ongoing contract saga — and the club's failure to lock the young star down.
'I do love Tim, but he got this one wrong,' Lyon said.
'You just voiced, Don Pyke the (West Coast) CEO, who we love and respect, is frustrated at their end for whatever reason for Harley and negotiations.
'Clearly they think there is something in the ether that is getting in their way. Well it certainly isn't me.'
Lyon said he has never spoken to Reid personally.