St Kilda have announced a new one-year extension for Ross Lyon that'll lock away the Saints senior coach until the end of the 2027 season.
Lyon was already penned to the Saints for the coming two campaigns, with the club making the pre-season call to extend his services for a further term.
The new deal will mean Lyon will serve through to a 10th year at Moorabbin, with two stints with the Saints bookending his eight years as coach of Fremantle.
โI'm as passionate about coaching and bringing this club success as I was on the first day I walked through the doors over 15 years ago,โ Lyon said in a club statement.
โHolding the position of senior coach is a privilege I don't take lightly. It is my responsibility to make those around me not only better but great, so that we as a collective can realise our club's potential.
โWe will leave no stone unturned over the next three years to ensure we take purposeful, powerful steps towards achieving the ultimate success.โ
Lyon has a record of 100 wins from 168 games in charge of the Saints, a run that started in 2007 and was rekindled ahead of the 2023 season when he was named successor of departed coach Brett Ratten.
The Saints managed a return to September under Lyon in his first year back, while 2024 saw them finish outside of the finals frame after an 11-win home and away campaign.
โWhen Ross rejoined the club in late 2022 following our football review, we knew substantial change was required across our men's football department,โ Bassat said.
โSince then, we have made a number of tough but important decisions, all with the objective of strengthening our football program.
โBy extending Ross' contract, we are ensuring stability in leadership and reinforcing our commitment to long-term success. In the past we have wavered from our plans, but this decision reflects our resolve to stay the course this time.
โWe have made strong progress on our planned build towards contention since Ross rejoined us. We have transformed from one of the oldest lists in the competition to one of the youngest through considered list management, bolstered our development and analytic capabilities, gotten more games into players under 21 than almost any other team, assembled an enviable coaching panel, and streamlined many day-to-day processes.ย We are striving across all areas to not only meet best practice but to be best in class.
โBuilding the foundations which will allow us to be competitive sustainably is not a process that can be rushed. We are truly excited about the next stage of our journey as the pieces start to come together.
โRoss' commitment to driving success is unwavering. He approaches it with professionalism, dedication and a deep understanding of what it takes to build a team capable of achieving meaningful success. I look forward working with him and seeing where he and his colleagues can take our blend of strong experienced leaders and exciting young talent over the next three years.โ
Lyon has coached a total of 352 matches in the AFL, earning a return of 196 wins for a rate of 56.39 per cent.
Lyon's third year in charge of the Saints will get underway on Sunday at Adelaide Oval against the Crows, with following matches to come against Geelong, Richmond and Port Adelaide.
