Ross Lyon deflects harassment allegations

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon played a straight bat when asked whether he was the person at the centre of the harassment scandal engulfing the AFL club.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has refused to elaborate on the sexual harassment storm engulfing the AFL club, refusing to even confirm whether he is the official at the centre of the controversy.

Lyon allegedly made an inappropriate comment to a junior staff member at the club's Christmas function several years ago, The Age reported on Monday.

The issue first became public earlier this month when it was reported a Fremantle club official made a secret payment to a former staff member to settle a sexual harassment complaint.

Lyon was questioned about the issue during his weekly interview on Seven News on Tuesday night.

But when asked if the man at the centre of the controversy was him, Lyon played a straight bat.

"Well fundamental to the AFL respect and responsibility policy is privacy for all parties, and clearly I need to respect that, and I'm not in a position to comment," Lyon said.

"All I can say is it was a workplace matter resolved by the club. And the AFL integrity unit independently investigated it, and there's been no sanction handed down."

When it was put to him that he wasn't denying that he was the one at the centre of the allegations, Lyon again deflected the question.

"Again, I can only refer you back to the privacy that everyone's under with the AFL respect and responsibility policy, and no one is in a position to comment any further."

Meanwhile, Lyon said goalsneak Michael Walters was only likely to miss one or two weeks - rather than four - after receiving better-than-expected news on his injured left knee.

The club initially thought Walters had suffered a medial ligament strain in last week's eight-point derby loss to West Coast, but further tests have shown that it is a knee cap issue.

Fremantle take on Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.


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Source: AAP


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