Autopsy Round 11 - St Kilda v Gold Coast

[beside the seaside]

The way Bassat and RTB are going ( absolutely 100% behind them) I suspect your wish will come true.

Batten down the hatches for what we’re about to cop from the likes of Cornes, Caro,Lloyd, Barrett and the like….

Yep, you can already imagine the headlines this week.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Beautiful day in Melbourne too. Alarming

Not that it matters because they refuse to open the damn roof.

Let’s enjoy one of the last beautiful days before winter vs let’s go sit in a cold stadium, late afternoon to probably watch a loss. Easy choice.

Ridiculous they don’t open the roof when it’s dry.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Yes—absolutely, a lot of people do quietly (or loudly) agree with Ross Lyon’s remark, even if it was blunt.

---

Why Many AFL Fans Relate to Lyon's "Nepo Baby" Jab:​

1. The Suns (and Giants) Are Widely Seen as AFL Creations​

• The Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants are perceived as manufactured clubs—not built from community demand but imposed by AFL HQ to chase TV deals and “national expansion.”
• Traditional fans, especially from Melbourne-based clubs, often see these teams as plastic, lacking real tribal identity.

2. They've Been Heavily Backed Financially​

• Suns have received millions in AFL assistance, including priority draft picks, generous funding, and off-field interventions.
• Compare that to struggling traditional clubs—like North Melbourne or St Kilda—which were told to merge, relocate, or die quietly.

3. There’s Frustration with the AFL’s Unequal Parenting​

• The AFL acts like a controlling parent, giving extra allowances and protection to its “younger kids” while letting the older ones fend for themselves.
• Fans feel there's favoritism—and that favoritism is not acknowledged honestly.

---

But There’s Also Pushback​

Some say Lyon's comment was:

• Disrespectful to young players and club staff trying to build something real.
• Hypocritical, given that every club benefits from the AFL structure in some way.
• A sore loser’s deflection after a poor performance.

Still, the fact that so many supporters from traditional clubs nodded quietly when they heard the line says something. Whether he meant to or not, Ross gave voice to a lingering resentment.

---

Would you like a quick quote or tweet-style take that expresses support for what Lyon was trying to say—without sounding like a sore loser?

David Swallow is 32. I don't buy the "young players " any more, they are a generation of gifted picks into the contest and still haven't achieved anything.

If they were a rock band , they are the "archies", and nowhere near as good as The Monkeys or Milli Vanilli.

 

[The Slug]

Nepo babies isn't bad, but I still prefer Gold campaigners personally

 

[ESPN8 The Ocho]

ChatGPT. For some reason the poster feels the need to run everything through Ai, ensuring it is both inaccurate and unfunny.

Perceptive, accurate and correct.
Is handsome also appropriate?

 

[SG34]

Where is the above from?
Also, Ross said this BEFORE the game didn’t he? Not because we lost.

I told GPT that he said it after the game. That's why.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

And just wanted to mention Max Heath, didn't watch the Sandy game, but saw the stat's.
Heath was our 3rd best player but with Boyd back in. Heath didn't seem to play much in the ruck.
I don't understand this. Heath in my opinion as the younger ruckman should be being developed as a ruckman. When Boyd is not there, Heath plays well. If anything they should be playing Boyd back or forward & developing his craft there. We already know Boyd is a genuine Ruckman & is 5 years older. Developing Heath in the ruck role should be the priority. And he has shown many times already that he can be good resting forward.

 

[Sully111]

I told GPT that he said it after the game. That's why.

Why? I mean why bother with this AI drivel. It adds nothing.

 

[Plugger35]

Good to see Ross Lyon and Basset firing some shots at the AFL for favouring the Northern expansion clubs with draft pick favours.

It is becoming a joke, how are we supposed to compete with the Lions, Swans, Giants and Suns being spoonfed top draft picks.

It's not an even playing field anymore, the AFL are trying to make/keep the Northern expansion clubs successful at our expense.

They think they can just treat us like shit as we have a loyal supporter base and give us handouts for a shit Marvel stadium deal.

We need to make a stand and speak up rather than sit there quietly and just allow the AFL to ride roughshod over us at their will.

 

[CHBench]

That’s the thing though isn’t it. Early afternoon at the G it would’ve been a treat. First bounce nearing dinner time at the indoor stadium, not so much.

100% agree.

Remember how we asked to play more MCG games, and reduce our distribution funds because we would like the opportunity to earn our own money? Declined.

St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena confirmed that the Saints’ initial wish was to have two of their 11 home games at the MCG, with a longer-term hope of a shared tenancy between the two stadiums and up to four games at the MCG, and seven at Marvel Stadium, where the league is re-negotiating tenancy deals.

“We would prefer to get better match returns and financial returns (from home games) than variable funding,” said Dilena, who added St Kilda had been subjected to unfair “stigma” about the level of funding they had received from the AFL, when much of this redistribution was due to stadium returns and the imbalance of the fixture.

“You would prefer to be making your own money than say we’re getting a handout,” he said.

“Yes, that is the ask and we’ve said that to them.”

Dilena said stadium returns were part of the structural inequities in the competition.

Go off Ross, playing nice got us nowhere.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Good to see Ross Lyon and Basset firing some shots at the AFL for favouring the Northern expansion clubs with draft pick favours.

It is becoming a joke, how are we supposed to compete with the Lions, Swans, Giants and Suns being spoonfed top draft picks.

It's not an even playing field anymore, the AFL are trying to make/keep the Northern expansion clubs successful at our expense.

They think they can just treat us like shit as we have a loyal supporter base and give us handouts for a shit Marvel stadium deal.

We need to make a stand and speak up rather than sit there quietly and just allow the AFL to ride roughshod over us at their will.

Don't forget, North-melb. getting pick 2 for Mackay.

 

[HeavenlySources]

Whilst I'm at it. To the rich ST Kilda supporters who could get us out of this AFL debt barrel but are choosing to sit and see us work our own way out of it to build character you can get F'd too.

The historical disadvantage of our club from day 1 (read the point of it all) due to lack of money is the main F'ing cause of our poor history. Yabby told everyone after experiencing both sides. And yet you tell The Age you could but won't. Well 13k at Marvel was our reward. Thanks. After 50 years I'm sick of the building. Why should I feel any need to keep ploughing my way more meagre money in if "you could but won't".

I know the Saints’ multi-millionaire and billionaire club probably don’t spend time on these forums, but it’s clear the club is now managing its finances and football priorities more responsibly. Paying that debt off would go a long way to accelerating success, first priority being the stand alone VFL expenses.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Next week
Ins. Butler, Heath, Tauru
Outs. Hall inj. , O'Connell, Wilson.
Maybe Higgo & Marshall rested?

 

[jumperfan]

Next week
Ins. Butler, Heath, Tauru
Outs. Hall inj. , O'Connell, Wilson.
Maybe Higgo & Marshall rested?

What happened to Hall?

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

What happened to Hall?

Ankle maybe. Saw him go off before half-time, but don't think he was subbed off, yeah?

 

[Dard Ball Get]

Next week
Ins. Butler, Heath, Tauru
Outs. Hall inj. , O'Connell, Wilson.
Maybe Higgo & Marshall rested?

Why would O’Connell be dropped?
Why would Higgo or Marshall be rested?

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Why would O’Connell be dropped?
Why would Higgo or Marshall be rested?

Some people here saying Higgo & Marshall may be carrying niggles.
O'Connell is having a crack, but doesn't get a lot of it. Unlucky but who else do you drop for the 3 ins l mentioned. Byrnes or Hill won't get dropped, for example. Some say they should?

 

[jumperfan]

Ankle maybe. Saw him go off before half-time, but don't think he was subbed off, yeah?

I think he’s ok, not listed as injured on the AFL app

 

[Mindtraveller]

Wonder if Ross is setting it up for the end of year when we get pick 4, but draft at pick 10 when 6 other academy ans F/S are taken away from our draft choice.

 

[jumperfan]

Wonder if Ross is setting it up for the end of year when we get pick 4, but draft at pick 10 when 6 other academy ans F/S are taken away from our draft choice.

We'll still get told that we should be grateful to have a pick at all.

 

[PJays]

Wonder if Ross is setting it up for the end of year when we get pick 4, but draft at pick 10 when 6 other academy ans F/S are taken away from our draft choice.

Good - he's doing the public a favour by turbocharging an important conversation.

This might be the year people realise how generous the system is to the academies.

 

[Plugger35]

We should be grateful we got Lenny Hayes

Lenny Hayes

Age

45

Ht

186cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.5

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

0.4

3star

, Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke

Justin Koschitzke

Age

43

Ht

197cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.4

3star

K

5.2

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

0.2

3star

G

0.0

1star

and Sam Gilbert

Sam Gilbert

Age

39

Ht

194cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.2

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

3.1

5star

MG

227.1

3star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.0

5star

when we were allowed to pick them.

These days they would be off limits to us and would be playing for the Giants or the Suns.

 

[Murraj1966]

Funny how based on the current ESPN rankings if we came 3rd last as I’m predicting Gold Coast and Brisbane will STILL pick before us

Great competition this one

 

[Ephemeral Hope]

Owens best game? Pretty much got that magic 25 and 2 stat line. 2 goal assists and I think 8 score involvements. And not even playing as a direct mid, just a high half forward.

 

[Baldur]

Better but poor goal kicking is poor play