St Kilda Saints coach Ross Lyon has found himself at the centre of controversy after being spotted partying with players just hours after their disappointing loss to the Melbourne Demons.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing Lyon in high spirits, with young gun Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera even hoisted onto teammates' shoulders during the lively celebrations.
Post-match party raises questions
The scenes have sparked debate among AFL pundits and fans alike, with many questioning whether such celebrations are appropriate following a defeat that leaves St Kilda's finals hopes hanging by a thread.
"It's certainly unusual to see this level of celebration after a loss," one AFL insider commented. "While team bonding is important, the optics aren't great when you're trying to maintain a professional environment."
Young star at centre of attention
All eyes were on emerging talent Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who appeared to be one of the main figures in the post-match revelry. The 20-year-old has been one of St Kilda's bright spots in an otherwise inconsistent season.
"Nas is a terrific young player with enormous potential," Lyon said in a statement to media. "We're working hard to develop all our young players in the right environment."
Club defends team bonding
St Kilda officials have defended the gathering, describing it as "low-key" and emphasising the importance of maintaining team morale during a challenging season.
"The players were simply having dinner together as they often do after matches," a club spokesperson said. "There's nothing unusual about players and staff spending time together outside of football."
However, critics argue that such visible celebrations send the wrong message to members and supporters expecting maximum effort from their team as they fight for a finals berth.
