St Kilda Coach Ross Lyon Slams ‘Corrupt’ VFL System for Costing Youngster Six Weeks

A visibly frustrated Ross Lyon has blasted the VFL and its suspension protocols after St Kilda’s first-round draft pick, Alix Tauru, received a four-match ban for rough conduct, which ultimately extends to a six-week absence.

This extended suspension arises from the timing of the ban which falls after Sandringham’s VFL match rather than St Kilda’s AFL game. With the unique structure of the competition featuring 22 teams, the Zebras will have byes in both rounds six and eleven.

As a result, Tauru will be sidelined from AFL action until mid-June, missing a total of six games at the highest level.

Tauru was on the brink of making his AFL debut prior to the incident involving Brisbane’s VFL player Curtis McCarthy.

Lyon expressed disappointment at the severity of the ruling, questioning why the penalties had to be so stringent.

“Is it four weeks or is it six? We are extremely disappointed, and I’m feeling quite frustrated—it’s an ineffective system,” Lyon said to reporters on Wednesday.

“We’ve already endured one bye, and now we have another this week. I fail to see the human element here.

“There has been significant discussion about my decision-making regarding a substitution, yet we have a first-year, top-10 draft pick who, if the ban is deemed to be four weeks, should suffice, especially considering the bye schedule.”

“How the tribunal does not factor in that it actually equates to six weeks is beyond me; compare that to Noah Balta, who received four weeks for an off-field incident, with due respect.”

“In this case, we are dealing with a young player who concussed an opponent, yet they receive a six-week penalty, and there’s no consideration—it’s as Paul Roos would put it, ‘common sense is often in short supply’.”

St Kilda is rumoured to be considering the option of separating from Sandringham to form their own VFL team. However, Lyon questions the value of continuing the “feeder competition” altogether.

“I’m frustrated and it’s no wonder AFL clubs are talking about forming a breakaway group from this 22-team setup, reducing it to four or five clubs that actually play against each other,” he stated.

“The risk involved is not worth it, and there is no compensation, acknowledgement, or adjustment for the fact that we have a misaligned fixture in this feeder competition to the AFL—it’s absolutely unacceptable.

“I just want common sense to prevail for the sake of a young player. We often discuss mental health, and here we are considering the welfare of a kid receiving feedback about his awareness of opponents.”