St Kilda poised for years of dominance
Roar Rookie
By Troy Chaplin, 21 Aug 2009 Troy Chaplin is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- AFL, Ross Lyon, St Kilda Football Club, St Kilda Saints
Justin Koschitzke of St Kilda (R) consoles Nick Riewoldt (C) after the AFL Round 20 match between the Essendon Bombers and the St Kilda Saints at the Docklands Stadium. Slattery Images
The St Kilda Football Club continue to make 2009 their own. Although they dropped their first game of the year against Essendon on the weekend, they’re still red-hot favourites for their first Premiership in 43 years.
Since Ross Lyon has taken over the helm at St Kilda, he has gone from having a huge amount of criticism put on him for playing a too defensive game style, to one which has become the benchmark of the modern day game.
Since his early days as a coach, he has transformed his teams’ game style from the typical one-on-one style that Sydney play, to a balance of both attacking and defensive football.
In 2007, St Kilda were heavily criticised for playing ‘boring’ games of football, which resulted in stoppage after stoppage and low scoring.
But this has turned into a master stoke for Lyon as he has developed a team which is extremely accountable. And once they have forced the opposition into turning the football over, they have developed an attacking game that compliments its defensive style.
This supports the argument that attack is built around defence.
St Kilda’s ability to put opposition teams under pressure is by far the best by any team in the AFL. They continually hunt the opposition by out tackling and out pressuring them, forcing them to make simple mistakes that have lead to St Kilda also being able to become more attacking.
St Kilda are in the top three teams for all defensive stats, which backs up the argument that they have the best defensive game in the league.
Not only have they developed this game style, but they have also made a stand on player efforts. They have set the standard amongst the playing group.
As a player, if you do not live up to this standard, then you may find your head on the chopping block.
Two players who were dropped back to the VFL as their efforts were not up to the standard that the playing group had set, found this out recently.
This new standard that S. Kilda have set is one of the main reasons for their success and one that teams are only going to follow in the years to come.
Geelong has had the same success over the past couple of years, but St Kilda have now taken it to a new level.
The finals series will be where St Kilda continues to stamp their authority on the competition. And they will turn from being the bridesmaid of the competition, to being one of the most successful of its time.
Troy Chaplin is a current player with the Port Adelaide Power and a columnist for The Roar.
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Tom said | August 21st 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
I’m not sure if they’re poised for years of dominance, but they’re certainly in a fortunate position to have most of their best players in that 24-27 age bracket who should be hitting their peak in the next two or three years.
The exception is in the ruck, where Gardiner and King are both on the wrong side of 30. They’d be hoping that McEvoy develops into a quality footballer.
Kazama said | August 21st 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
“The exception is in the ruck, where Gardiner and King are both on the wrong side of 30. They’d be hoping that McEvoy develops into a quality footballer.”
Either that or they will have to try to get a young-ish ruckman from another club, say Mark Seaby or Jon Griffin.
Pippinu said | August 21st 2009 @ 8:47am | Report comment
Years of dominance? I’ve heard that one before.
It’s interesting to note that when the Lions narrowly missed out on matching Collingwood’s record of 4 consecutive premierships, at no point did they ever finish top of the ladder.
We think St Kilda will be able to dominate the finals and hold their nerve on grand final day – but we actually don’t know that for sure.
Kazama said | August 21st 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Agree Pip. Most probably thought the Cats would have won the flag last season but that didn’t happen. What if Nick Voldt gets the yips on GF day?
Brian said | August 21st 2009 @ 11:58am | Report comment
I think they will win this year but I havn’t seen anything that would suggest they’re more dominant than Essendon 2000 or Geelong 2007 who both probably won once. Who would have thought Hawthorn would miss the finals? Given injuries plus the age of Gardiner, King, Kozie, even Riewoldt I would hardly say they are destined for domination. If anything I think they will win in the way PA won 2004. A very good team that should have peaked earlier getting one before its too late
sheek said | August 21st 2009 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
Right……….
I think it was only last year when Hawthorn won the premiership, that some scribes were saying how they would dominate for years to come…..
And the year before that when Geelong won the premiership, much the same thing was said…..
With all due respect, this is juvenile reporting. Are you getting in early just in case St.Kilda DO dominate for the next 5 years, & you can say – “I told you so”?
As anyone who follows any sport for any period of time, you soon learn that things can rapidly change in 12 months. One thing you can never accurately assess is the human mind, & how emotions can alter performance year in, year out.
Especially, especially, especially in team sports, where so many different emotions have to be taken into consideration.
And also what Pippinu said!
Pippinu said | August 21st 2009 @ 5:31pm | Report comment
By the way Troy – it takes a lot of guts to come onto a sports blog like this as a professional footballer – especially when anonymous bloggers can be so, how can I put it politely, unaccountable.
Kudos to both the Roar and yourself for giving it a go.
Big game this weekend!! Dare I say it – make or break?!
sheek said | August 22nd 2009 @ 7:23am | Report comment
Yes Troy,
What Pippinu said. Saying your comment was juvenile was also juvenile of me to say so, even if I thought it. It’s just that I’ve seen too many of these types of comments prove unsustainable.
St.Kilda might win the premiership, & they might dominate for many years. But it’s a bit premature to say so, I would think.
The other point is, St.Kilda’s extraordinary success is a double-edge sword, placing enormous pressure on themselves. The players might be thinking, “surely we CAN’T lose the premiership after the wonderful season we’ve had”.
That kind of thinking, which I’m sure is in the deep recesses of each Saints player’s mind, can only add to the mental pressure. Going into the finals, the Saints biggest opponent might actually be themselves.
Pippinu said | August 22nd 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Sheek
I have no doubt that as St KIlda gets nearer to Grand Final day (and it has to it do yet) – that the mental pressure will be pretty much greater than any team before it.
For two reasons:
1. Expectations are absolutely sky high given a stellar season (well beyond the norm of any top team); and
2. the weight of history, of one flag in over a century, fans are dreading and looking forward to the grand final in equal measure – and the whole club knows it.
I’m not sure if Troy was playing at the time, but he would know that Port had to finish top of the ladder something like three seasons on a row before actually making their first grand final – and they won it in a massive effort against Brisbane – but geez they were tested all right.
If St Kilda cops Geelong in a grand final – I suspect they will be tested big time as well.
sheek said | August 22nd 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Pip,
And Geelong players have probably spent the last 12 months kicking themselves for probably going into the 2008 GF just a tad over-confident. And as they go about trying to redeem themselves in 2009, they have the sight of a rampant St.Kilda to deal with.
The moral to the story is obvious – you have to grab your opportunities when they present themselves. By next year, some other team might be top dog (no pun intended, but the Bulldogs deserve respect, too)!