Geoff Walsh is stepping down as head of football at St Kilda.
Club sources said Walsh was stepping down for family reasons, and David Misson would fill the vacancy on an interim basis in the revamped football department headed by prodigal senior coach Ross Lyon.
The highly regarded Walsh, a former head of football at both Collingwood and North Melbourne, had only been in the position for a matter of months. He was appointed in the post-season of 2022.
Geoff Walsh is stepping down at St Kilda.Credit:Darrian Traynor
Walsh’s departure means the Saints will need to find a new football chief on the eve of a season in which Lyon will be taking charge in his second stint as senior coach. Tessie McManus, the Saints’ head of AFLW, will assist Misson.
The Saints had just appointed Stephen Silvagni, the ex-Carlton great and list manager, to a list management role alongside veteran administrator Graeme Allan.
St Kilda had also appointed new assistant coaches in favourite sons Lenny Hayes and Robert Harvey for the 2023 season. Lyon coached the pair in his first stint at the club.
Walsh with Josh Battle and Ross Lyon at RSEA Park last November.Credit:Getty Images
Walsh had considerable success as a football boss at North and Collingwood, where he was involved in premierships alongside Denis Pagan and Mick Malthouse. He returned for second stints at those clubs, working with Brad Scott and Nathan Buckley and presided over important club reviews at Collingwood in 2017 – which led to the Magpies jumping up to a grand final – and Carlton in 2021, followed by a review of the Kangaroos last year.
Walsh’s departure, while personal and completely independent of club matters, follows a dramatic post- and pre-season at St Kilda, in which senior coach Brett Ratten was sacked and replaced by Lyon.
The Saints’ president Andrew Bassat had commissioned a review of football mid-season, only a matter of months after Ratten had been given a contract extension. The club had extended Ratten mid-season when the Saints had a winning record and looked on track to make finals. But their slumping fortunes in the second half of the season and failure to make finals from that promising start led to Bassat’s board making a ruthless call on the coach.
Chief executive Matt Finnis stepped down at the end of the 2022 season, with previous football boss and chief operating officer Simon Lethlean becoming CEO.
List manager James Gallagher also departed, moving back to South Australia with his family.
In a statement released by St Kilda, Lethlean thanked Walsh for his leadership and support during a critical time for the football program.
“The club respects Geoff’s decision to do what is best for he and his family. We have been incredibly fortunate to acquire his expertise and skills, even if only for a short time,” Lethlean said.
“Geoff’s knowledge and experience has allowed the club to make a strong start at implementing the recommendations of the review and embracing a new coach as well as many new staff within the program.
“Thanks to Geoff’s stewardship and his rigour in driving standards and processes, we are confident in the early signs and feedback coming through from the football program and look forward to seeing what the team can produce in 2023.
“Geoff and his family are now part of the St Kilda family. We wish them all the very best and look forward to remaining in contact.”
Walsh thanked the club for its support and wished the coaches, players and staff every success heading into the 2023 season.
“I have really enjoyed my time with the club but with my personal situation very recently changing, I now need to focus on addressing that, which unfortunately will preclude me from devoting the necessary time to a full-time role in football,” Walsh said.
“There are many wonderful and dedicated people here at St Kilda and it has been a pleasure getting to know them and sharing in their passion to help the club improve.
“In a short space of time, some significant change in systems, staff and structure have been undertaken in the football program and I have enjoyed playing my part in that. I expect 2023 will see the benefits of those changes.
“It has been a great experience building a working relationship with many talented people within the program, in particular Ross Lyon, who I know will be relentless in driving the program towards a strong future.
“While I will be stepping away, I will still be keeping a close eye on the Saints and staying in touch to support the club where possible.”
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