Team: St Kilda Saints
Homeground: Etihad Stadium (53,000)
Coach: Ross Lyon
Season 2010: Third (P-22 W-15 L-6 D-1 62pts 121.62%)
2011 squad: David Armitage, Steven Baker, Jason Blake, Paul Cahill, Raphael Clarke, Jamie Cripps, Sam Crocker, Nick Dal Santo, Zac Dawson, Sean Dempster, Sam Fisher, Ryan Gamble, Michael Gardiner, Jarryn Geary, Sam Gilbert, Brendon Goddard, Jason Gram, James Gwilt, Lenny Hayes, Nicholas Heyne, Will Johnson, Clinton Jones, Justin Koschitzke, Tom Ledger, Tom Lynch, Ben McEvoy, Andrew McQualter, Stephen Milne, Leigh Montagna, Brett Peake, Dean Polo, Farren Ray, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider, Tom Simpkin, Arryn Siposs, Alistair Smith, Rhys Stanley, Jack Steven, Nicholas Winmar. Rookie list: Warrick Andreoli, Daniel Archer, Thomas Curren, Robert Eddy, Jackson Ferguson, Steven Gaertner, Tommy Walsh.
Arrivals: Jamie Cripps (2010 AFL Draft), Sam Crocker (2010 AFL Draft), Ryan Gamble (2010 AFL Draft), Tom Ledger (2010 AFL Draft), Dean Polo (2010 AFL Draft), Tom Simpkin (rookie elevation), Arryn Siposs (2010 AFL Draft).
Departures: Steven King (retired), Andrew Lovett (delisted), Luke Miles (delisted), Adam Pattison (delisted), Jesse Smith (retired).
Season preview: The heartbreak of consecutive grand final losses has surely taken a toll on the St Kilda playing group. With all of the recent off-field distractions on top of the Saints gut-wrentching 2010 finish, it’s unclear how St Kilda will back up their last few years of fantastic football. These factors should result in an eventual slide down the ladder but the question is, when will the slide begin?
St Kilda still have pretty much the same list as last year and their class will ensure they don’t slip too far down the ladder.
Their midfield is still one of the best in the competition with Montagna, Hayes and Dal Santo showing no signs of slowing down while Clinton Jones has developed into a premier tagger and Brett Peake provides plenty of run. Montagna and Goddard were in amazing form last year and it’s hard to see them not making an impact in 2011.
The forward line is still more than capable with the twin towers Riewoldt and Koschitzke. Kosi will want to have better season this year. Goal sneaks Schneider and Milne will hold their club in good stead if they can kick 96 goals between them again. In the backline Gwilt and Sam Fisher have been solid while Gilbert led the club’s defensive rebounds from 50.
Steven King and the injured Jesse Smith have retired while a few others were delisted but these departures are a positive for the club with that bunch playing only 13 games between them in 2010.
A couple of their new recruits could be handy with Ryan Gamble and Dean Polo joining the team. Saints fans also have some young talent to look forward to with utility, Jamie Cripps and Arryn Siposs, who booted 99 goals for Beaconsfield last year.
They also have a group of guys who experienced senior footy and will want to develop further in 2011. Blokes like Geary, Stanley and Steven will all want to play a bigger role for the club next year.
The Saints were so close to grabbing onto only their second flag since 1966, last year. Will their failure to go all the way on the field, plus all of the media attention off the field set the Saints up to fail in 2011? It may hold them back and there are some new teams that look set to challenge this year but there is no reason St Kilda can’t make the finals.
Main man: Inspirational skipper, Nick Riewoldt is St Kilda’s main man up forward but we have to acknowledge the hard work and class of Saints’ veteran Lenny Hayes. The 31-year-old is more than just a midfielder. He’s a courageous leader, who tackles hard and puts his body on the line. Hayes proved his brilliance again last year when he won his second best and fairest, a Norm Smith medal and 19 Brownlow votes.
X-Factor: All-Australian, Brendon Goddard. He’s exciting, takes hangers, kicks goals, and is probably the best utility in the game today. Had an amazing 2010 campaign where he averaged 28 disposals, led St Kilda for contested marks and finished with the seventh most marks in the league. Demonstrated what a superstar he is with his performance in the drawn grand final.
Predicted 2011 finish: Fifth
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Not a single Swan acknowledged Sam Wicks' second goal against Hawthorn on Sunday, with the apparent snub coming after he was left out of…
Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane has been forced into immediate retirement by the threat of further eye damage. Sloane, 34, had a second bout…
"You can't push forward with Zac Williams in the short-term... you've got to set standards."
Kane Cornes has hit back at suggestions Aliir Aliir had some responsibility in being concussed in Jack Higgins' dangerous tackle, which saw the Saint…
The MRO handed the Bulldogs player a one-game suspension for rough conduct after his shepherd on Fremantle opponent Brandon Walker.
With the national competition, the premiership-winning coach says some games it was hard to feel the occasion such as ANZAC Round - and it's…
