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The Saints have had Lyon firmly in their sightssince sacking Brett Ratten on Thursday,with Lyon confirminghis interest in returning to the club he led between 2007 and 2011 before quitting in dramatic circumstances andheading to the Fremantle Dockers.

Lyon met with Bassat and Lethlean for more than four hours at Bassat’s home on Monday.

The Saints want a “ruthless” mentor who can bring a hardened defensive edge to the side,while also embracing the need for a more attacking style encouraged by recent rule changes. In Lyon,they feel they have the man who can deliver both.

Following an internal review,Bassat is determined the Saints no longer be stuck between sixth and 10th on the ladder,declaring he wants a team consistently capable of being in the premiership mix.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has been touted as a possible option for the Saints should Lyon not take the role,but the Bulldogs insist he is not leaving. Beveridge has a year to run on his contract,with negotiations to open soon. Adem Yze,the highly respected Melbourne assistant coach who missed out on the Essendon and Greater Western Sydney senior coaching roles,does not yet appear to be in the mix.

Lyon led the Saints to grand finals in 2009 and 2010,and the Dockers to the 2013 decider before he was sacked in 2019. He has since worked in the construction industry,and forged a media career on Triple M and Nine’sFooty Classified.

Should he return to Moorabbin,he would have the endorsement of many of the stars he coached a decade ago,including Nick Riewoldt,Leigh Montagna and Brendon Goddard. Jason Blake,also a former player,is now a club board member,and his insights into Lyon’s tactical nous and demeanour will help shape the Saints’ thinking.

Former St Kilda defender Jarrod Lienert,delisted this week,said Ratten’s sacking was a shock.

“I didn’t[see it coming] at all,actually. The two-year signing made me presume he’d be the coach there next year like most people,I guess,” he told SEN.

“I suppose the review must have found some things. My personal experience with him,I thought he was great,and he had a really good relationship with the players,and he’s such a caring guy.

“I guess our form,we were flying in the first half of the year,and to fall away the way he did,some questions must have come into the review and the people who were doing the review’s minds and that’s where the decision has been made. I was pretty shocked when I found out last week.”

Meanwhile,industry sources said Port Adelaide’s list boss Jason Cripps,who is contracted to the Power,would not head to Moorabbin. Cripps played 60 games for St Kilda between 1996 and 2002.

After a quiet trade period,Saints list boss James Gallagher said internal improvement was needed next season. The club review,expected to be released in part,has looked into the Saints’ wider list management calls.

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