Indigenous players defend St Kilda coach Ross Lyon after report reveals comment during training session

In short:

Ross Lyon revealed he offered to stand down as coach after a comment he made at training reportedly upset some Indigenous players at the Saints.

Lyon reportedly referred to a chain of play during training in which several Indigenous players linked up as a "brotherboy connection".

What's next?

Several Indigenous players have since defended Lyon, as the Saints prepare to play the Blues on Saturday.

Indigenous footballers who have played under Saints coach Ross Lyon have come to his defence after comments he made during a training session led to an "emotional" meeting with players.

Veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson reported on Monday night that Lyon said, "I love the brotherboy connection, but we all have to remember we are part of a bigger team here", after several Indigenous players had linked up with the ball during a training session.

The comment was reportedly not appreciated by the players, including Bradley Hill and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, and led to a meeting in which Lyon offered to consider stepping down as head coach.

"I'm not here to justify or try to rationalise what I said. We are all only as good as our next moment, and it was a moment I understand I misjudged," Lyon told Wilson.

"Was I being flippant? Could it be described as casual racism?

"It didn't land where it should have landed, and I have to wear that, and I take full responsibility for what I said.

"I was very emotional at the meeting, and I offered to consider my position."

The report on Channel 7's Agenda Setters prompted several players, including Hill and Wanganeen-Milera, to defend Lyon on social media.

"Sorry Caro but we love Ross," Hill posted on Instagram, along with a picture of Hill, Lyon, and Wanganeen-Milera arm in arm.

Wanganeen-Milera reposted the image, while Fremantle's Michael Walters, who spent several years under Lyon at the Dockers, also shared the image.

"Ross loves the Indigenous culture. He's more open to learn than any of you," Walters wrote on the post, while Liam Henry, who moved from the Dockers to the Saints, wrote "one of us."

Lyon is expected to speak to media this week as the Saints prepare to play Carlton on Saturday night.

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