Former St Kilda forward Stephen Milne is excited about the prospect of Ross Lyon returning to the club as coach.
While Lyon abruptly left the club in 2011, he has remarkably emerged as the frontrunner to take over at Moorabbin following Brett Ratten’s sacking last week.
Following those reports, Milne - who played 117 games under the 55-year-old – believes there’s “something definitely bubbling” behind the scenes.
“Exciting vibes, but we haven’t spoken,” Milne said on SEN WA Breakfast.
“But I put in a couple of phone calls and messages, and he’s been very quiet on the text, so I think there’s something brewing, which is very exciting hopefully.
“There’s something definitely bubbling, I think.”
With the Saints promising to move quickly with their new appointment, Milne believes that points to a scenario where they’re ready to offer the job to an experienced head coach, as opposed to a longer process where a raft of candidates are interviewed.
“Obviously, it was bad circumstances last week and I do feel for ‘Ratts’, but I think they’ve kind of made the decision behind closed doors,” Milne said.
“They wouldn’t have sacked Brett Ratten to go through a four-to-six-week process for assistant coaches with (Adem) Yze, Lenny Hayes or Robert Harvey.
“If it’s going to be announced in one or two weeks, it might be a Ross (Lyon) or a James Hird.
“I just think there’s something bubbling under the water, that’s a bit exciting for the club as they try and chase the second flag.”
Lyon is St Kilda’s second-most successful coach of all time having taken the club to three Grand Finals and Milne believes if he accepts the job he’ll be “all-in” to get the Saints back to the top of the table.
“100 per cent, once Ross puts his mind into anything it’s 110 per cent, he’ll do everything in his power to make this club great again,” Milne said.
“I think if he’s in, Ross is all-in, it’s no half-hearted, he will do everything he can, working 16-hour days as he used to when I was coached by him to get the club right.
“He’s got that mental capacity to say, ‘I’m in, so let’s get this job done and get the Saints where they need to be – up the top of the ladder again’.”
Lyon famously had strong relationships with a raft of St Kilda stars during his time at the club and Milne is only the latest of multiple big names to throw his support behind a potential return home.
“Obviously ‘Rooey’ (Nick Riewoldt) is a big fan of him, same with myself, Joey (Leigh Montagna) and obviously Brendon Goddard put his hand up to help,” Milne said.
“All of the past players would be right around it, hopefully there’s a few phone calls being made or thing week if he hasn’t done that already.”
While Lyon inherited a stronger list when he took originally took over compared to what the Saints currently possess, Milne is certain he can turn the club around and help the side skyrocket up the ladder.
“Ross can turn anyone around,” Milne said.
“His standards and the way he goes about it, I know we haven’t got the list and I was lucky enough to play with a lot of those guys you mentioned.
“But he just instils belief in the playing style, you get goosebumps talking about it.
“Hopefully he’s got the call, but I definitely believe he could change this club in two to three years pretty quickly and get this club back where it belongs.”
Lyon achieved a 62.8 win percentage during his time in charge of St Kilda from 2007 to 2011.