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The football department was overhauled, the board replaced, a new club home announced and the player turnover was significant.
The star full-forward had retired, but then decided he wanted one more AFL season and came back.
St Kilda’s off-season has sometimes looked busier than the season itself.
In his second year, coach Ross Lyon deadpans that he feels “as stressed as I did in the first”.
But having fumed at times during 2007 about the club’s injury management and then seen plenty of cause for optimism about their on-field prospects, Lyon has made the Saints his team.
St Kilda will be one of the most intriguing teams this year – does the Riewoldt-Ball-Dal Santo era still have a premiership in it? – but Lyon will not die wondering.
“I feel more in control, obviously, I really know what to expect – forewarned is forearmed,” Lyon said.
“The group and I have made a lot of inroads into what we want to do and things we want to work on, in regards to attack and defence.
“We’ve put a lot of good people in place, added to the resources and therefore the systems are tighter, we’re really hopeful of getting the results.”
That hope was given a further boost as St Kilda won the NAB Cup.
Heading into the regular season, they are widely seen as the team best-equipped to challenge defending premiers Geelong.
A month-long losing streak last year meant the Saints reached halfway with only four wins, but they won seven of their next 11 to miss the eight by half a game.
Full-forward Fraser Gehrig’s retirement only lasted a few weeks as Aaron Hamill, Brett Voss and Andrew Thompson were among those who had definitely ended their careers.
Geelong premiership ruckman Steven King led the player recruits, but the most important personnel changes at the club could prove to be among the team’s support staff.
Matthew Drain took over as football manager, David Misson joined from Sydney as fitness coach and Tim Barbour came in as a club doctor.
For at least three seasons, the Saints have not taken a trick with injuries – enough was enough.
In the midst of this, Greg Westaway had led a board takeover that deposed the Rod Butterss regime and the Saints announced they would eventually leave their Moorabbin home for Frankston in the growing south-east Melbourne corridor which has traditionally been a Saints stronghold.
Where all this leaves St Kilda will remain a query for at least the first 10 weeks of the regular season, but so far the signs are good.
Former West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner only played one game at any level last season, but the former All-Australian with plenty of off-field baggage has impressed.
If Gardiner, King and Michael Rix can settle as a ruck trio, that frees Justin Koschitzke to spend more time forward alongside Nick Riewoldt and Gehrig.
Injuries have hit the Saints particularly hard in defence in previous seasons, with Matt Maguire, Max Hudghton and Brendon Goddard all out for extended periods last year.
It is said a settled back six is the key to a premiership team and here the Saints badly need some stability.
Former coach Grant Thomas has wondered aloud whether legendary veteran Robert Harvey is playing one season too many, but the Saints have depth in their midfield group.
After a carefully-managed summer, gun onballer Luke Ball eased back into the team for the pre-season semi-final win over Essendon.
Amid all the questions of who plays where, Drain has already noticed something else about this team.
“The biggest thing that has jumped out at me about St Kilda’s list is the maturity of the playing group,” said Drain, who was previously football manager at Essendon and the Western Bulldogs.
“I mean the maturity of people … they’re good athletes, they’re very focussed, that’s what has jumped out at me.
“But again, you’ve got to back it up, haven’t you?”
ST KILDA
Coach: Ross LyonCaptains: TBA
Last five years: 11-3-3-8-9
Premierships: One (1966).
Star five: Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo, Sam Fisher, Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke.
One to watch: Steven King – The former Geelong skipper’s last game for the Cats was as a member of their record-breaking premiership team. Under the Grant Thomas regime, ruckmen were often considered a low priority at St Kilda. Not so under the coaching of Ross Lyon.
Ins: Eljay Connors (Bendigo U18), Sean Dempster (Sydney), Charlie Gardiner (Geelong), Jarryn Geary (rookie elevation), Fraser Gehrig (re-drafted), Clinton Jones (rookie elevation), Steven King (Geelong), Ben McEvoy (Murray U18), Adam Schneider (Sydney), Jack Steven (Geelong U18).
Outs: Barry Brooks (delisted), Matthew Clarke (reitred), Aaron Hamill (retired), Andrew McQualter (St Kilda rookie list), Phil Raymond (delisted), Justin Sweeney (delisted), Andrew Thompson (retired), Brett Voss (retired), Fergus Watts (delisted).
Best line-up:
B: Steven Baker, Max Hudghton, Sam Fisher
HB: Leigh Fisher, Matt Maguire, Jason Gram
C: Xavier Clarke, Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna
HF: Brendon Goddard, Nick Riewoldt, Robert Harvey
F: Stephen Milne, Fraser Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke
R: Steven King, Luke Ball, Lenny Hayes
I: Jason Blake, Aaron Fiora, Sam Gilbert, Adam Schneider
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