St Kilda star Brad Hill opens up on ‘difficult’ conversation with Ross Lyon on Channel Seven’s Unfiltered
St Kilda star Brad Hill has opened up on his “difficult” conversation with Ross Lyon after taking issue with a comment made by the Saints coach during a training session.
St Kilda star Brad Hill has opened up on his “difficult” conversation with Ross Lyon after taking issue with a racially offensive comment made by the Saints coach during a training session.
Last month, Channel Seven’s Caroline Wilson revealed Hill was unhappy with a remark Lyon made about three of the club’s Indigenous players combining during a drill.
On The Agenda Setters, Wilson reported Lyon said: “I love the brotherboy connection, but we all have to remember we are part of a bigger team here”.
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Wilson revealed Lyon had offered to consider his position during in an emotional meeting where he offered an apology, which was accepted.
After the story became public, Hill and Wanganeen-Milera took to Instagram to publicly support Lyon, who had confirmed the accuracy of the story.
On Channel Seven’s Unfiltered, Hill said he was inspired to speak up by Lyon’s frequent use of the phrase “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept”.
“I thought ‘I’ve got to go up to him and have a chat to him and say this is how I wouldn’t like to be spoken to’,” Hill said.
“It was definitely a little bit difficult. Even the other boys, I made sure they came up with me and they were definitely a little bit nervous to go up there.
“We came in and sat down and Ross was obviously very devastated about what had played out. We had an adult conversation about it and (said) ‘this is what we didn’t accept and we thought you could have used the different terms or you could have handled it in a better way’, and he accepted it.
“I’ve got so much respect for Ross and he’s had probably the biggest impact on my career and my life as well outside of footy. I love him and he’s done so much for us and what he does for all the Indigenous boys — whenever we have something on and we need to get back home, he gives the boys as much time as they need.”
The West Australian star has a close relationship with Lyon, playing three seasons under him at Fremantle before they reunited at St Kilda, when Lyon took over ahead of 2023.
Hill said the environments within football clubs had changed since he entered the AFL system in 2011 and he may not have spoken up as a younger player, but he was now comfortable in his role as a leader.
“Probably not even five years ago when I first got here, I definitely wouldn’t say anything, but I think the relationship I do have with Ross makes it easier to go up and chat to him,” he said.
“There’s so many young Indigenous boys here, I feel like I have to be the one that stands up for them, the voice.
“I’ve got to support them and that’s how I see myself in my role here as well — obviously, I’ve still got to go out there on the weekend and play. but I’ll make sure that these boys are supported and they’ve got everything they need to make it easy for them to rock up to training, to play good and just create a safe environment for them.”
