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Although much has been made of Melbourne’s improvement in 2014, Sunday was not one step back, it was three.
A doubled win tally, notable improvements in players such as Nev Jetta, Rohan Bail and Cam Pedersen, while also conceding 20 less points per game, has been cause for much joy among Melbourne supporters.
Yet on the weekend Melbourne suffered one of the most humiliating losses of the season, losing to the Greater Western Sydney Giants at the MCG.
Even though it wasn’t one of the 100-point thrashing the Dees and their long-suffering fans have become accustomed to in recent years, make no mistake it was humiliating.
They were beaten soundly by a young team, who despite having no bench, out-ran, out-worked and completely outplayed the Melbourne Football Club.
Then there’s the cellar-dwelling Saint Kilda. With new coach Alan Richardson, the Saints began the season with three wins out of four to be in the eight.
Then they faded badly to be favourites to take home the wooden spoon, sitting last on the table with two rounds to go.
Saint Kilda currently has ties to Moorabbin and Seaford with the club also being rumoured to be keen on a deal in conjunction with Cricket Victoria and the Victorian Government to redevelop the outdated Junction Oval.
Melbourne currently use the world-class AAMII Park and Gosch’s Paddock.
St Kilda have talented midfielders in Jack Steven and Luke Dunstan, while the Demons feature the up-and-coming Dom Tyson and the ever-reliable Nathan Jones.
Melbourne have been last on the table for 97 of 127 rounds since 2007 and haven’t won a premiership in 50 years. St Kilda have one of the lowest overall winning percentages in the league and have won one premiership in 125 years of football.
The solution for these two clubs’ woes?
Let them come together, to become the Melbourne Saints.
Unlike the attempted merger between Hawthorn and Melbourne in the 1990s, this benefits both sides and the AFL.
Saint Kilda can have world-class facilities, Melbourne get the quality players to help their struggling side. Add a few draft picks they’ll receive this year and the potential cap room to lure a marquee signing, and it’s perfect.
Melbourne get to cut ties with the City of Casey, something which new president Glenn Bartlett is very keen on, and also find their potential successor to Paul Roos in Alan Richardson, a highly regarded coach of young players.
Their line-up would resemble something like this:
B: Luke Delany Lynden Dunn Neville Jetta
HB: Jack Newnes Tom McDonald Shane Savage
C: Bernie Vince Dom Tyson Farren Ray
HF: Jeremy Howe Rhys Stanely Jack Trengove
F: Eli Templeton Nick Riewodlt © Jesse Hogan
Foll: Billy Longer Nathan Jones © Jack Steven (VC)
Int: Cam Pedersen/Tom Hickey, Leigh Montagna, Jimmy Webster, Rohan Bail
Sub: Sam Blease/Jay Kennedy-Harris/David Armitage
That looks like a side which could, with a few adjustments, be in the top eight within two years.
Add to that the likes of Patrick Mccartin and Christan Petrecca from this year’s draft, and things really start looking up for the AFL’s two perennial rebuilders
So let’s all get behind the Melbourne Saints, for the good of everyone involved.
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