Ross Lyon may have jumped to the defence of St Kilda's slow start to the season, but the club's coach has warned it is not his job to prepare his players for mass scrutiny.
The Saints have had a start to the season they would likely rather forget, recording two straight losses and failing to meet the expectations of their fans and the AFL public.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Tom De Koning have been the club's best in the first two rounds but the pair struggled to have an impact in the final quarter against the Demons, with the latter unable to get the upperhand on elite ruckman Max Gawn.
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To add salt to the wounds, Lyon was blasted by pundits for his controversial rotation strategy and decision to bring Wanganeen-Milera off the field for six minutes in that final quarter against Melbourne, even though the game was still on the line.
The star duo are the two highest-paid players on St Kilda's list, with Wanganeen-Milera joining on a record-breaking $2m per season deal while De Koning is on roughly $1.7m.
A salary that high only elevates expectations and criticism when things gone wrong. That has proven to be the case in recent days for the pair, leaving reporters questioning their coach as to whether he has prepared his players to handle such commentary.
Lyon delivered a blunt response.
"Well that's not our job," he said.
"That's why AFL football is abnormal. It's not like what you do (as a journalist), you're not under scrutiny. You choose AFL stress, you choose anxiety, you choose to be in the arena. I am happy to be in that arena.
"I know what's coming, but you've got to write your own story, and traditionally, both those players (De Koning and Wanganeen-Milera) have written really strong AFL stories.
"That's why it's AFL, it's high performance and it's abnormal. If you want normal, you step the other side of this microphone, the other side of the fence (down) on the ground, and you pursue mediocrity in your life.
"These guys are pursuing excellence, and with that comes a lot of critique in terms of the on field."
Lyon was aware of the noise around his team, claiming that he personally was not bothered by it as he does not interact with footy content in his personal time.
As for what his algorithm does show him, Lyon opted to keep "that private". He then joked that it is time to "tweak the algorithms" of Wanganeen-Milera and De Koning
"We just support people," he continued.
"We are only as good as our next moment. The moment you don't handle the stress and anxiety, it's time to give it away. You've got to keep leaning into it."
The 59-year-old batted away suggestions that the team may need more time to settle in and become a united force. He then promptly moved on to analysis of their weaknesses.
Lyon recognised that "what really hurt" the Saints last week was their ability to keep hold of the ball on turnovers, even though that was not their only inconsistency.
But not even a 0-2 record this season could shatter his confidence in his team, nor spark any fear that his job could be on the line.
"Just because there's noise and rhetoric doesn't increase the pressure," Lyon said.
"The greatest pressure is internal for performance."
St Kilda will make the trip to Sydney to face the GWS Giants on Saturday afternoon.
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