Ross Lyon said on Wednesday that Milne, who plays his 200th game against Fremantle this week, had laid claim to be mentioned in the same breath as the very best at his craft.
“It is a special effort to play 200 games. For a small forward it is really tough, you try and identify the great ones like (Peter) Daicos, Brett Allison, (Darren) Bewick and (Phil) Matera. He certainly sits up around there somewhere,” Lyon said.
“At the end of the day it’s nice to have a few pots and discuss who was the best small forward.
"We value him internally, he’s got great character, a wonderful family and they will be over there for the day.”
Milne has been in career-best form this season, kicking 26 goals and leading the way as the Saints’ No.1 forward in the absence of injured skipper Nick Riewoldt.
“It’s the way he’s getting his goals. He is coming up at the ball, it’s not just a goal at any cost," Lyon said.
"It’s a goal within the team parameters of leading, crumbing and pressuring. He’s a real team player and a real leader of the forward line.
“He has stood up under real pressure. You can’t beat your critics, you can’t answer your critics, all you can do is persist and have some longevity in your career and keep producing, that is the ultimate revenge.”
Lyon made light of counterpart Mark Harvey’s suggestions that Victorian clubs are advantaged by using charter flights for Perth games.
The AFL contributed $5000 for the Saints to use a charter flight for their round nine trip to Perth to take on West Coast, which is part of a travel allowance all clubs can call on.
Harvey said such luxuries should be afforded to the longest-travelling clubs in the AFL, Fremantle and West Coast.
Lyon laughed off Harvey’s concerns that the Saints might be using a charter flight for this week’s game against Fremantle at Subiaco.
“Is he ever happy, Harves? He’s hitting up short breaks, he’s hitting up a few things isn’t he? Drafting, injuries. We just look after our own footy club and control what we can control,” Lyon said.
The St Kilda coach scoffed at suggestions the AFL was providing an advantage for travelling Victorian clubs.
“We’d love Andrew (Demetriou) helping us, because Andrew really discriminates to St Kilda more than any other club. It’s a nice little topic there isn’t it? I’m not buying into that. We’re just going to Perth, we’re getting a plane over and going to get a plane back and in between we’re going to play a game of footy.”
