GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Erin Phillips of the Crows celebrates with children Blake and Brooklyn after the 2017 AFLW Grand Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium on March 25, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon has defended comments he made relating to Erin Phillips and her children after the AFLW grand final on Saturday.

“I was worried and concerned with Erin Phillips taking out her two young babies, one in either arms,” Lyon said on SEN following the incident.

Herald Sun journalist Susie O'Brien called Lyon a hypocrite in an article she wrote on Tuesday, citing that Lyon had taken his children out onto the field once before, and said he made the comments due to her gender.

Lyon hit back against O'Brien's accusations on Wednesday morning, saying the time he took his children out onto the ground was a different circumstance.

“I wasn’t playing, I was retired. I walked out onto the ground, jumped in a car and drove around a lap. But, no, I understand that. That’s fair,” he said.

“I was commenting on a footballer. Not a man. Not a women. A footballer.

“I don’t care whether it was Erin Phillips or Jordan Lewis…I was just a touch concerned for the little, little kids.”