The race is on to land the Richmond coaching job, and the caretaker coach has some big-name support.
AFL: Suns CEO Mark Evans has failed to commit to Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew beyond the 2023 season, following the shock departure of Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.
But now Lyon has thrown his full support behind McQualter to succeed as caretaker coach at Richmond after Damien Hardwick’s departure, having even tried to “pinch him” and get him back to the Saints.
Lyon revealed he went “pretty hard” to try to lure McQualter, who played 94 games with first St Kilda then the Gold Coast, to Moorabbin as one of his assistants and said he wouldn’t be surprised if he got the job full-time.
“I tried to pinch him, to be honest. He probably never told the Tigers that,” Lyon said on Wednesday.
“We sort of went pretty hard. If I was going anywhere else, I had him lined up to come – if I could get him.
“It would be great to see ‘Mini’ get the job.”
Andrew McQualter playing for St Kilda.
Hardwick cited burnout after 13 years in the hot seat as one reason for leaving, and Lyon conceded the effort required to achieve three premierships would be telling.
But in his return to coaching, after a four-year stint, Lyon didn’t think there was “any more pressure” on current coaches and even thinks Hardwick could return.
“To go to that level, the effort you are putting in, and sustained effort, takes a bit out of you,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s any more pressure. There’s always more platforms for assessment … it’s everywhere.
“I think the intensity is greater, but the demands on viewing the game, being there for your players, is the same.
“He’s choosing happiness, which is really important to do.”
Lyon has his own heavyweight list of assistant coaches, including Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes and Corey Enright, who could possibly contend for the Richmond job.
He said he felt like he was working with “three senior coaches”, and while confident any could do well if they pursued the vacancy, Lyon didn’t want to speak for them.
“I feel like I’ve got three senior coaches underneath me,” Lyon said.
“But it’s a different chair and where they’re at in their lives and what they’re ready for – I can’t speak for them.
“I would endorse all of them without hesitation, but it’s going to be interesting which way they go.”
Ross Lyon and assistant coach Corey Enright. Picture: Michael Klein
Lyon said forward Tim Membrey was a chance to return for Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn as he called for extra support from teammates for young star Max King to help him with physical attention from opponents.
King kicked four goals in his first game for the season last weekend, having tried to bulk up after shoulder surgery but needs more help.
“He’s put on some size and we knew he could do all the running,” Lyon said.
“We just spoke about he probably needs a bit more support.
“We think key defenders are quite physical, they‘ll be physical on him.”