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\u2018THERE WAS A BIT IN THAT\u2019: ROSS\u2019 FIVE-MINUTE TAKE ON NEW MANDATE<\/p>\n
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon expressed reservations over the one-size-fits-all approach behind the AFL\u2019s mandated club psychologist.<\/p>\n
The league enforced a compulsory psychologist at all clubs on Tuesday as part of its reaction to the Elijah Hollands case. <\/p>\n
The move was included in Carlton\u2019s $75,000 sanction over its management of Hollands during what was described as a mental health episode.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere do we start,\u201d Lyon said with a smile, before unpacking soft cap and mental health complexities for five minutes.<\/p>\n
The Saints coach said St Kilda already invest a lot in their mental health services. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
St Kilda has a strong level of support with two clinical psychologists separate to the AFLPA and AFL hotline.<\/p>\n
Lyon praised the AFLPA\u2019s multi-option model, saying a player feeling uncomfortable or lacking chemistry with its mandated psych would simply disengage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFLPA do a great job with past players but they also currently \u2013 with all their millions, which is great \u2014 have a pool of psychologists,\u201d Lyon said, in part.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a pool of I think five, certainly in each state, that the players can access with no line of sight to the club which is a good thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re clinical psychs and (the players) know that, and I imagine there would be a couple on our lists who avail themselves to that opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen to the AFL\u2019s credit, they initiated a 24-hour help hotline \u2013 that\u2019s pretty strong.<\/p>\n
\u201c \u2026 I think the panacea, \u2018We\u2019ll put on a full-time psych\u2019, like, basically we\u2019re there and there\u2019s (other) avenues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know in our personal life \u2026 you\u2019ve got to find a psych that you\u2019re comfortable with, you can\u2019t just mandate.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if (players) walk in and there\u2019s no chemistry it doesn\u2019t work. That\u2019s why the AFLPA\u2019s model is good: that (psych) is not working, but that (psych) is working.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lyon credited the AFL\u2019s 24-hour help hotline but said players would need to be comfortable with the psychs at the clubs. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
The AFL allocated a further $750,000 to the club soft cap this season but it still remains nearly a $1 million short of what it was prior to the Covid cuts.<\/p>\n
Lyon continued, saying a prescribed psychologist falling under the soft cap would create a further squeeze on roles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re one of the more resourced clubs in that space, but then that will take away from recruiting, that will take away from coaching, it\u2019s about what you value, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it gets to processes on game day and that\u2019s made us reflect and make sure we\u2019re getting that right and then it\u2019s that trust environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am banging on here, but the blue from clubs is that I think it\u2019s right, they do deserve some privacy, I think (the AFL is) concerned if we know too much we\u2019ll make list decisions.<\/p>\n
The decision to mandate a pscyhologist at each club came after Carlton were fined $75,000 for their handling of Elijah Hollands\u2019 medical situation. Picture: Michael Willson\/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI get that bit but I\u2019ve had players come to me with gambling issues, really significant issues, that we\u2019ve been able to help, direct and keep them accountable for.<\/p>\n
\u201c \u2026 It\u2019s best intentions, to draw it back to your original question, is soft cap the limiter? Yeah. Should the AFL fund it? Yeah.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo maybe some of the money that goes to the AFLPA, that\u2019s good, but maybe fund the clubs in this space. That would make it a hell of a lot easier. <\/p>\n
\u201cDoes that make sense? There was a bit in that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Lyon says Max King will \u201cget there\u201d in time after the injury-plagued forward suffered another setback in the VFL last weekend. <\/p>\n
The Saints coach said the situation wasn\u2019t ideal but criticised the \u201chyperbole \u2026 outside the club\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had him with (a movement coach in the USA), we\u2019ve had him to one of the best physios in Australia at the AIS,\u201d Lyon said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day- it\u2019s really been one long term injury which is the knee that they were conservative (with).\u201d<\/p>\n
The Saints forward has not played an AFL game since Round 16, 2024, suffering countless injury setbacks, with the latest hamstring to keep him out of action for the next six weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s gonna get there. It\u2019s not a repetitive strain issue, it\u2019s a nonsense,\u201d Lyon added. <\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we\u2019ve got to build him up and we\u2019ll be even more conservative again, but he\u2019ll get there, I\u2019ve got no doubt.<\/p>\n
PIES SQUASH PENDLES SELFISH CALLS<\/p>\n
Collingwood coach Craig McRae quickly brushed aside claims that Scott Pendlebury\u2019s pursuit of the games record carries any hint of selfishness.<\/p>\n
Pendlebury will equal North Melbourne great Brent Harvey\u2019s 432-game record this Saturday night against Geelong.<\/p>\n
The veteran midfielder has drawn criticism for missing the Hawthorn draw and the likely plan that he also sits out the Sydney clash to break the record at home.<\/p>\n
There has also been disapproval about the gold No.10 Pendlebury is expected to wear when he claims the record as his own.<\/p>\n
Collingwood champion Tony Shaw was just one questioning the club\u2019s approach towards the milestone.<\/p>\n
McRae said Pendlebury, 38, has often missed five-day breaks and was perplexed by the criticism surrounding Collingwood\u2019s appetite to celebrate its champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t given (the gold number) much support and I reckon you could be black, white and grey amongst what this looks like,\u201d McRae said.<\/p>\n
Scott Pendlebury to be rested | 01:43<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019re just considering that someone is bigger than the team, for that one day can\u2019t we celebrate one person?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s going to play outside the rules, it doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s going to play differently to our game plan, and it doesn\u2019t mean the team is going to try and give him the ball all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just want to celebrate this one person, and if it\u2019s a jumper with a different colour, I think we\u2019re probably reading a bit too much into it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Pendles will say this, and he says this all the time when we have big games: \u2018Let\u2019s not play the occasion, let\u2019s play the game\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think for this one time, let him play the occasion and we\u2019ll play the game \u2013 in essence \u2013 I know he will play the game for what it\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut let\u2019s celebrate the occasion for him when it comes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bobby Hill, meanwhile, is progressing in his training and is expected to play a full match in the VFL on Saturday.<\/p>\n
McRae said he had left Hill\u2019s timeline in the hands of the Magpies\u2019 fitness staff but felt the small forward was definitely closer than he was a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Bobby is progressing, I am sort of leaving it up to high-performance (for) when he is fit and available,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s still only played, he didn\u2019t play a full game last week. As much as we like what he\u2019s doing on the field, he\u2019s still got a hell of a lot of work to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re anticipating that (he plays a full game in the VFL), he hasn\u2019t trained today, he trained last night with the VFL.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a bit ill this week, but we\u2019re anticipating that (full game).<\/p>\n
DEMONS CHAMP\u2019S BRUTAL REJECTION DUBBED \u2018A DISGRACE\u2019<\/p>\n
Premiership Demon Angus Brayshaw\u2019s concussion insurance claim has been rejected, according to Herald Sun chief football reporter and First Crack host Jay Clark.<\/p>\n
Brayshaw, who was medically retired from the game officially in February 2024, had been waiting on a verdict around a seven-figure insurance payout after multiple brain injuries ended his 167-game AFL career.<\/p>\n