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Ross or Voss: Where would the Blues be if they had Lyon?
Andrew Slevison • April 3rd, 2025 4:24 pm
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon had some interesting things to say about the Carlton coaching process he eventually walked away from.
Lyon was being courted by the Blues in 2021 but he opted out of the hiring process and would ultimately end up back at the Saints in late 2022.
The Blues instead appointed Michael Voss in September of 2021 and have since enjoyed finals appearances in 2023 and 2024 - but has it been the right move for the club?
Now in his third year back at Moorabbin, Lyon was quizzed on the Carlton situation and why he made the decision he did.
“Ultimately I walked away from that process and I think we’ve got to be careful judging them too harsh too quickly,” he said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
“I think they’ve got a lot of foundations in play and they’ve turned it around.
“I’m certainly solely focused on St Kilda. We’ve all had moments where everyone judges us and not everyone gets it right all the time.”
But why did Lyon walk away? Did he feel disrespected by the process?
“It was just that the process got a bit drawn out,” he replied.
“I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, it was a legitimate process.
“You make your bed, you lie in it - and I had to lie in mine - and now they’re lying in theirs.”
Kane Cornes was on the panel with Lyon during his guest spot and found the 58-year-old compelling.
It promoted a discussion on SEN’s Sportsday with Gerard Healy, pondering where the struggling Blues would be in 2025 if Lyon ended up with the job.
Both would take Lyon over Voss if they had a choice, with Cornes praising the former’s ability to maximise the potential of his playing group.
Cornes: “How much would they be regretting that decision do you think?
“Would Carlton be in a better position - and I’m a Michael Voss fan - but would they be in a more competitive on-field position if Ross Lyon was their coach?”
Healy: “I’m a huge Ross Lyon fan and I’m a major fan of ‘Vossy’ as a leader of a club.
“If I had to pick one of the two, with all respect, I’d go for Ross.”
Cornes: “I’ve had my criticism of Ross in recent times which I discussed with him, but the reason I agree with you is that he has the best ability to maximise what he’s got and get the best out of the players that he’s got.”
Healy recalled the time he endorsed Voss for a coaching role, suggesting he does rate his coaching ability, but does feel like the Blues “butchered” the hunt for Lyon.
Healy: “That said, I was asked about advising a club that was changing coaches and my suggestion was Michael Voss.”
Cornes: “There’s many, many sliding doors moments in footy, from drafts to recruiting to players you were going to recruit that said no.
“There’s all these doors that open and shut and you can look back in hindsight and go, ‘Geez, how things could have played out differently’, but I do wonder if Blues fans reflect on that decision as well and what the footy club would look like.”
Healy: “They butchered that, they totally butchered that the Blues.”
Voss’ Blues have started the season without a win through three matches and next take on Collingwood in a blockbuster at the MCG on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Lyon’s Saints find themselves with a 2-1 record ahead of Sunday’s clash with Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval.
