St Kilda boss Andrew Bassat has backed coach Ross Lyon\u2019s unique press conferences, saying \u201cstupid questions\u201d from journalists fetch \u201cstupid prizes\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lyon produced a divisive post-match press address after St Kilda suffered an agonising one-point loss to Adelaide on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
He insisted the Saints had improved despite their 2-4 record, quizzing reporters on where each of their opponents finished last season.<\/p>\n
The standoff sparked mixed reviews, headlined by former AFL player and leading agent Liam Pickering, who urged journalists to boycott Lyon\u2019s conferences.<\/p>\n
Bassat said Lyon responded better to an \u201cintelligent and fair\u201d line of questioning.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoss is an interesting person, overall I love Ross. He\u2019s a very driven person, he really wants to win, he\u2019s hungry,\u201d Bassat told ABC Melbourne on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty tough situation we put coaches in. We have a one-point loss, you don\u2019t have much luck in the run and then you have to front an interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Ross is much better with good questions than he is with bad questions. I have copped it myself from time to time when I ask a question he thinks is stupid.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk stupid questions, win stupid prizes is his view.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoss wants to win, he\u2019s put in a difficult situation. I think if he gets an intelligent and fair question he will respond to it fairly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if he doesn\u2019t he\u2019s perhaps more honest than most coaches about the fact he doesn\u2019t feel that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
St Kilda was promoted to Opening Round this year and welcomed its highest home-and-away crowd against Collingwood at the MCG.<\/p>\n
Bassat said he was torn on the concept, wrestling between a dislike for it and fear of being excluded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a bit torn here because I don\u2019t love the Opening Round concept where you really differentiate when sides start and the byes that come through it,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is going to be an Opening Round, we\u2019d love being part of it. We requested that and the AFL agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was great, we had a big crowd. Unfortunately, we lost but it was a good game to have.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would probably prefer not to have it but if you\u2019re going to have it, I would prefer to be in it.\u201d<\/p>\n