St Kilda coach Ross Lyon showed off his wild side by hoisting one of his stars onto his shoulders at a wild party as the team celebrated a win that has gone down in the AFL history books.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera kicked two goals – one after the siren – to cap off his side’s record-breaking win over Melbourne on Sunday, which saw the Saints pull off the greatest three-quarter-time comeback in VFL/AFL history as they erased a 46-point deficit.
Lyon – who has forged a reputation as a no-nonsense force to be reckoned with in the league – was recorded chairing Wanganeen-Milera as music blared and other St Kilda stars recorded the scenes on their phones, drinks in hand and family in attendance.
The party went off on Sunday night, just after the stunning win at Marvel Stadium, and it was a pre-planned celebration with the team getting a seven-day rest before they tackle North Melbourne.
Lyon was in raptures in the coach’s box as his side stormed home in one of the most dramatic finishes to a match in memory, and he foreshadowed the party in his post-game press conference.
‘Get a bit of belief and we’ll all get together tonight,’ he said.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon (circled) is pictured chairing match-winning star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in a grab from a video of the team’s wild party after their win over Melbourne
The Saints rewrote the AFL record book by clawing back a 46-point deficit in the final quarter on Sunday in one of the most dramatic finishes to a match in recent memory – and celebrated in the sheds afterwards (pictured)
Wanganeen-Milera (pictured second from right) kicked two stunning goals – one of them after the siren – to seal the incredible win at Marvel Stadium
‘We’re trying to build out the mortar of the club, we’ve got a family function at a hotel. We’re all getting there.
‘We’ll all enjoy each other’s company but the cold reality is in 24 hours you’re preparing [for the next match].
‘We did talk about the joy at halftime, of playing footy, don’t let it get you down.
‘As a kid, you’d love to be here.’
The Saints slotted nine unanswered goals in the final term to win 15.6 (96) to 13.12 (90).
It pips the previous the best last quarter revival, when the Brisbane Bears came from 45 points down at the final break to beat Hawthorn in 1995.
Wanganeen-Milera calmly slotted his third goal after flying for a soaring mark with less than 20 seconds remaining.
That levelled the scores before a 6-6-6 penalty in the middle was paid against the Demons, to the confusion of all players.
Saints ruck Rowan Marshall was able to perfectly pick out Wanganeen-Milera running inside 50 just before the siren sounded.
Lyon (pictured) admitted he got teary-eyed when Wanganeen-Milera took the mark that set up the winning goal
Any score would have given the Saints victory, but Wanganeen-Milera went back and kicked the goal, to a raucous reaction from the crowd.
‘Underneath the exterior, I can get emotional,’ Lyon said.
‘A little bit watery when Nas took that mark.
‘I think it’s just that emotion, just for the players, just for them.
‘Our young players never gave up, and our leaders never gave up, and they found a way.’
Lyon also revealed Wanganeen-Milera, who had a game-high 34 disposals alongside his match-winning four goals, was in doubt to play due to a stye in his eye.
‘I had a sleep-in this morning. Got up, make my coffee. I see four missed calls from the doctor,’ Lyon said.
‘Experience tells me this can’t be good.
‘He said ‘Nas has come in’ and they upped his antibiotics, given him an injection.
‘I rang him (Wanganeen-Milera), he goes, ‘No, I’ll be right’.
‘I just said, ‘If you’re not right, no pressure, we’ll tap you out’.
‘He just let us know so it was a good story.’
