St Kilda president Andrew Bassat has placed the onus firmly on journalists for the uneasy environment that has been characterising Saints coach Ross Lyon's press conferences this year.
Fielding questions about the enigmatic Lyon on ABC radio on Monday, Bassat was sympathetic towards coaches across the league, given their contractual obligation to front the media after matches - matches that don't always go their way, as was the case with Lyon on Saturday night.
"It's a pretty tough situation we put coaches in. You have a one-point loss, you don't have much luck in the running, you've got to front an interview," Bassat said.
Bassat went on to admit that he himself has been victim of Lyon's prickly nature in their professional relationship, before imploring journalists to ask better questions, if they want better quality answers.
"I think Ross is much better with good questions than he is with bad questions. I cop it myself from time to time when I ask a question he thinks is stupid," he said.
"Ask stupid questions, win stupid prizes, is his (Lyon's) view.
"Ross wants to win. He's put in a difficult situation. I think if he gets an intelligent and fair question, he'll respond to it fairly. If he doesn't, he's perhaps more honest than most coaches about the fact that he doesn't feel that way.
"Ross is a very interesting person. I love Ross, he's a very driven person, he really wants to win. He's hungry."
It was put to Bassat that all coaches are more than likely confronted with inadequate questions, and deal with it in a more personable manner than Lyon has become known for. Bassat put such a difference down to Lyon's "honesty".
"He's more honest than most in his unwillingness to accept the things that are less than appropriate, if that makes sense. And he does that at the football club and that's why we love him. He wants us to be the best we can be and he doesn't walk past mediocrity," Bassat explained.
Former Cat and Kangaroo Liam Pickering stoked the flames of controversy on the weekend, with his criticisms of Lyon's treatment of media members. Speaking on SEN Radio on Sunday, Pickering accused Lyon of being "condescending" and "belittling", going as far as to say he "wouldn't bother turning up", if he were a journalist.
The Saints sit 13th on the ladder, at 2-4, with winnable games against West Coast and Carlton looming in the the next fortnight.
