Garry Lyon says “the heat is coming” for Saints coach Ross Lyon as well as premiership winners Alastair Clarkson and Luke Beveridge as the trio prepare to enter the final year of their contracts.
St Kilda’s campaign is hanging by a thread after Sunday’s loss to Carlton has it sitting two games outside the top 10 and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera set to miss at least the final two matches of the home and away season with a hamstring injury.
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It means Lyon’s side is set to miss out on September action for a third-straight year after an aggressive off-season splash in trade and free agency put increased expectations on the club.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Lyon said the Saints boss and fellow experienced coaches Beveridge and Clarkson were coming under increased pressure to deliver for the clubs ahead of contract years in 2027.
“I think the heat is coming for Ross. I think the heat is coming for premiership coaches ‘Clarko’ and ‘Bevo’ and ‘Rossy’ not that far away from being a premiership coach,” the Demons legend said.
“You’ve got Steven King, Josh Fraser and this young group of coaches coming through having some pretty immediate success. And these men are coaching into the last year of their contracts.”
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The Saints coach conceded after the loss to Carlton his side “hasn’t been good enough” and “that sits with me” after he previously claimed it was “indisputable” they’d improved in 2026.
“We’ve been very, very competitive and our percentage tells it. Sometimes we don’t care about complexities. But that’s OK. I’ve got to wear it, I’m fine, I’m a big boy, I’m happy to take what comes,” Lyon told reporters.
“Leaders shepherd, protect, nurture and challenge their people under pressure. That’s my job and I’ll continue to do it until I’m either tapped, or I tap myself.”
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Injuries have played a part in St Kilda falling short of expectations, with key stars including Max King, Jack Sinclair and Sam Flanders having all missed big chunks of the season.
But 2027 looms as a crucial year at Moorabbin.
Lyon goes into the final year of a five-season deal since he returned to the club in 2023, while Wanganeen-Milera’s two-year contract worth a record $2 million annually also expires.
“So, yeah, I think that’s real (the heat is rising on Lyon). Ross knows that better than anyone, you can tell that,” Lyon added on AFL 360.
“He wants a clear run at it, he’s got players missing from the weekend and lost players during the game.
“But that’s not going to placate the St Kilda fans — and nor should it. They have high expectations, as do the Bulldogs and Kangaroos, and they’ve got highly credentialed men in charge of their clubs.
“They will know the heat is coming for them and it’s going to be a big summer.
“That’s real, and that’s great. We’ll see the best of Lyon, Clarkson and Beveridge when the heat comes on.”