‘Enough is enough': Combative Lyon ends press conference over contract questions

Sydney Morning Herald

4 days ago

A combative Ross Lyon cut short his weekly press conference on Wednesday, declaring enough was enough when it came to questioning about the club's list management and reports of player unrest.
While declaring he was delighted the Saints were in the hunt to retain star playmaker Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Lyon soon grew tired of the questioning about uncontracted players, ending the media opportunity when the focus turned to off-contract midfielder, Marcus Windhager.
In a chat which went for just shy of six minutes, Lyon had earlier dismissed reports that key defender Callum Wilkie had become disillusioned by the club's decision to offer multimillion-dollar contracts to rival players Tom De Koning and Leek Aleer – which are above market rates – while also pursuing West Coast young gun Harley Reid.
Lyon had said on Nine's Footy Classified (Nine is the owner of this masthead) on Tuesday night there was no substance to a report that the Saints had offered Reid a bombshell 12-year, $25 million deal. He reinforced that statement the morning after.
'I have never spoken to Harley Reid,' Lyon said.
When questioned whether the club's list management team – led by Graeme Allan and Steve Silvagni – had offered that deal to Reid's management, Lyon questioned the journalistic rigour behind the assertion.
'I am not sure that was done,' Lyon said.
SEN had reported on Monday that Wilkie, skipper Jack Steele, ruckman Rowan Marshall – linked to Geelong – and Windhager could be part of a mass St Kilda exodus at the end of the season. It was also reported on Seven's Agenda Setters that Wilkie, an All-Australian and contracted until the end of 2027, had become disenchanted with the club over its list management plans.