St Kilda Coach Ross Lyon Addresses Injuries and Ground Conditions
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has chosen not to directly comment on the condition of the Marvel Stadium surface, which may have played a role in the serious Achilles injury sustained by recruit Sam Flanders during the team’s recent match against Hawthorn.
The Saints suffered a heavy defeat, and Flanders was taken off the field midway through the second term after being assisted from the pitch. An Achilles injury can be particularly severe and often requires extensive recovery time. As a result, the former Sun player is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Lyon acknowledged the severity of the injury but emphasized that he would not speculate on medical details before the club releases an official update.
“I’ve tightened up on this. I used to expand a bit more,” Lyon said. “Really simply, it’s an Achilles injury. It looks serious. But I can’t speak for the doctor and the MRI that’s yet to occur, so the club will update when it’s all done.”
Criticism of the Surface Conditions
Lyon was also questioned about the state of the playing surface, which some believe may have contributed to the injury. The stadium’s roof was left open, potentially affecting the ground’s stability.
While Lyon did not directly address the issue, he made a pointed remark about the management of the venue.
“I’m just at a roll-my-eyes stage. I don’t know, take it up with Scott Fitzgerald, the CEO of Marvel Stadium,” Lyon said. “And the broadcasters. I don’t know what they thought. Both teams had to play on it. I knew it was wet. I’ll leave that to the sports scientists and medics. I couldn’t comment on that. It would be remiss of me and wrong of me. I’m just trying to stay in my lane in lots of places.”
Hawthorn Coach Supports Lyon’s Comments
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell echoed Lyon’s concerns about the playing conditions. He noted that the surface was slippery, despite the game being held indoors.
“I’m not sure why exactly but it was slippery,” Mitchell said. “It was quite wet. It seems funny that we played inside and it was wet. Even in the warm-up, it was quite slippery under foot. We weren’t sure which type of game we’d get.”
Looking Ahead for St Kilda
Despite the setback of losing Flanders, the Saints remain optimistic about their upcoming matches. They are hopeful that key players such as Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Mitch Owens, and Liam Ryan will return from calf injuries in time to face Sydney at the SCG.
This loss adds to the challenges the team faces as they aim to regroup and focus on the remaining fixtures of the season. With several players already sidelined, the Saints will need to rely on their depth and resilience to bounce back in the coming weeks.
