'Deliberate decision': Lyon backs Socceroos game clash

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera shone in the Saints' win, which clashed with the Socceroos' World Cup game. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Ross Lyon has defended the AFL's decision to go up against the Socceroos and taken a swipe at GWS home-ground attendance in the process.

The Saints coach was at his feisty best on Sunday after they beat the Giants by eight points in a pulsating clash at Marvel Stadium.

The game deserved a lot more than the crowd of 17,748, although that was about par for the teams and the venue.

Liam Ryan kicked six goals in the Saints' win at Marvel Stadium, which attracted 17,748 spectators. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

There had been pre-game talk about the start of the AFL match clashing with the end of the Socceroos' World Cup opener in Vancouver.

On Friday, Lyon dismissed that as "irrelevant", but he was in more of a mood to discuss the issue after Sunday's win over GWS.

"There are full-time people who do the (AFL) fixturing," Lyon said.

"Hang on - when was the World Cup scheduled? December 6 last year? OK ... if someone knew it was on, and you're a full-time fixturer, it was a deliberate decision, wasn't it?

"Was it logical? That's probably debatable. But I like the attitude - we're the AFL, we're a Saints home game, our people will come.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon was bemused by the scheduling of the Saints' clash with the Giants. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

"Last time we played GWS up there, there were probably 3000 people, with no Socceroos game on."

The crowd for their round-two win over the Giants in Sydney was 9149.

Lyon added that if the Saints keep winning, the fans will come.

"I will take the 17 (thousand). If we win more ... I've been at the Saints when we've won lots of games and we've filled the stadium," he said.

"So it's on us. Is it about the Socceroos? I don't know."

Likewise, Lyon was up for the discussion when he was asked about their fixture for the rest of the season, with no games outside Victoria.

"There's only one way you get 10 (in Victoria) at the end. We played away from our home ground, out of Victoria, as much as any interstate club - and that's fact," he said.

"That's OK. I checked it. It's opportunity-cost."

GWS coach Adam Kingsley had plenty on his mind after the Giants' loss at Marvel Stadium. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Before the game, GWS coach Adam Kingsley had been more than happy to discuss the World Cup.

He has also drawn Spain in the Giants' in-house sweep.

"I'm here to talk about the Socceroos. Let's go," the losing coach said at the start of Sunday's post-game media conference.