Relentless. Uncompromising. Tenacious. Those are some of the adjectives that have been used to describe the St Kilda Football Club over the past two seasons. In 2009 and 2010, the Saints set new on-field standards, applying unyielding defensive pressure and showing a high level of professionalism.
If there was an overall two-year ladder, they would hold top spot with 35 wins, a draw and a percentage of 137.3.
But six rounds into the 2011 season and the Saints are on the verge of failure. They currently sit 13th on the ladder, with one unconvincing win against Brisbane, an ugly draw against Richmond and three losses.
Yes, we’re only six rounds in, but the early signs are terrible.
The Saints are ranked 14th for disposals, 15th for handballs and, most importantly, 15th for total points. Those numbers don’t represent the St Kilda side the AFL community has come to know and love over the past 24 months.
But why?
Why has such a disciplined and professional unit gone from ‘almost premiers’ to ‘bottom-eight losers’ in just seven months? How does that happen so quickly?
There’s little doubt the issue lies between the ears. The players are obviously mentally bruised for some reason. So what’s bugging them?
Is it the off-field curse?
The Saints’ summer was far from ideal. The infamous ‘nude photo’ scandal, the club-imposed suspensions to four players for silly acts in New Zealand and the re-emergence of the Leigh Montagna-Stephen Milne rape case from 2004.
So are those off-field issues starting to show through on-field performance?
Some say yes. North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey admitted on Channel Seven’s Game Day that indiscriminate off-field occurrences can easily affect players’ mindsets. If players are being bombarded by negative content about their own club, it’s hard to ignore.
Some say no. Every club and player is bound to have off-field issues at different stages. Why should St Kilda’s summer’s distractions be any different? Yes it was all unwanted, but that’s still no excuse.
Maybe the problem should be traced back to Grand Finals.
Utility Jason Gram recently told SEN radio that some players are still thinking about missed opportunities. How could they not? Three Grand Finals and no wins. First a 12-point loss to Geelong in 2009, then a thrilling draw and a pants-down thrashing at the hands of Collingwood in 2010.
Have we underestimated the mental toll those losses have had on the Saints? Are they still struggling to pick themselves up? Are they heavy laden and still carrying a burden?
The Saints could also be physically fatigued as well. Let’s not forget that due to the extra Grand Final, their preparation for this season was completely thrown out of whack.
The obvious counter argument to that is to take a look at the team currently occupying the top spot on the ladder – St Kilda’s 2010 Grand Final opponents. Collingwood was in the same situation as the Saints before the start of the season, the only difference being the Pies are undefeated and in menacing form.
Plus, it’s only Round 6. Surely players aren’t stuffed after six weeks of action?
Many experts predicted Brendon Goddard would win the 2011 Brownlow medal. But after five rounds of footy, he hasn’t looked close to polling a vote. Goddard is way down on his usual output. He seems to have lost that spark and aura that helped him produce one of the best Grand Final performances the game has ever seen last season.
Skipper Nick Riewoldt has started the season poorly, too.
With full forward Justin Koschitzke sidelined due to injury, Riewoldt has been the sole big boy up forward – and he’s struggled. He’s kicked just eight goals from five games, but the uncharacteristic drop chest marks on the lead have been more of a concern.
Is the form of those players to blame?
In recent years, it has been the stars of St Kilda who have carried the club. But now that they are experiencing a form slump, the bottom six to eight players are being exposed for what they really are: average players.
We must also remember St Kilda is without its most influential player in Lenny Hayes. The club hasn’t had too many injuries so far this season, but the ACL injury to its spiritual leader is the equivalent of losing two, possibly three, average players. Hayes is the heart and soul of the midfield and the barometer of the team. He is a massive loss.
The Saints are the second oldest team in the AFL, with an average age of 24 years and 205 days. Are they too old? They’ve had four players make their debut so far this season, should that number increase?
Have opposition teams finally figured out how to beat St Kilda? Is its mystery defensive press now too easy to break?
So many questions.
The only positive for the Saints is they have time on their hands. It’s only Round 6 and there’s still another 18 rounds to go.
We’ll learn a lot about them over the next seven weeks. They play Carlton, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Fremantle in Perth, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and finally Geelong.
St Kilda’s self-belief will be tested like never before. But great teams find ways to win. Great players fight through adversity and come out the other side much more mature players.
If the Saints want to remain a force, now is the time to get over the mental demons and move on.
No one knows what’s wrong with St Kilda this season. St Kilda probably doesn’t even know.
But whatever the reason, the Saints’ form slump needs to be addressed right now. If it isn’t, a top eight finish seems unrealistic.
Swampy
Guest
Your all ignoring the one key and final tipping point for their demise. THE ST KILDA SCHOOL GIRRRRRRL
amazonfan
Roar Guru
It's extraordinary to think that St Kilda could be the two-time reigning premiers. They were clearly the best team of 2009 (20 wins and a % of 155.71; two more wins than Geelong who had a % of 127.38) and if they had kicked straight, they probably would have gone on to win the Grand Final. Then in 2010, they could have won the premiership if a couple of things (such as Hayes's kick) in the first Grand Final had gone their way. They were incredibly close to winning back-to-back flags, yet they failed to do so. I really do think that it would take a mental toll on them. How could it not? If they had been thrashed, that would be one thing, but one could argue that they lost at least one of the flags off their own foot, and that could damage even the most mentally toughest of people.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Frankly I hope they get no where near the finals because I don’t like the way they play slow tempo defensive football. They hate to take a risk and play on! I second that! It's as bad as the Swans circa 2004-07.
Chaos
Guest
The other teams have figured out there game plan. They are getting older. Zac Dawson is rubbish. Some of their stars are injured. Nick R is forced to play on three defenders and they have little other targets toward. Goddard is tagged due to Hayes being injured. No fringe players are standing up to be counted. Frankly I hope they get no where near the finals because I don't like the way they play slow tempo defensive football. They hate to take a risk and play on!
Swampy
Guest
Ding Dong the witch is dead... Well round 6 but all the signs of Riga Mortis are there. I couldn't be happier this year - the king has returned to the kingdom of black and red and the world has returned to normal where the saints are sinners and mired in the muck of the bottom where the Ross Lyon game plan belongs. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Macca
Guest
Aware - That's just a cop out, these players can create their own culture (and probably have done over the past few seasons) the fact that theplayers of the 80's were notorious party boys doesn't have the slightest impact on today's players unless they want it to. Sydney had their fair share of issues but have now got a outstanding culture largely since Roos' took over as coach.
Aware
Guest
You have to understand the history of St Kilda. It was a foundation member of the original "VFL" in 1897 and was formed much earlier than that. But it has won only one premiership (1966) and struggled for most of the time. Not having a history or culture of success makes it prone to losing heart very easily when setbacks occur. It just doesn't have a culture of winning to sustain it through the bad times and make it bounce back.
Macca
Guest
Searly - I amhave been amazed at the scenario's you have outlined but the only things I can think of to explain it is 1) Clubs don't want a player who doesn't want to be there and 2) they don't want to make waves in case they have someone who wants to come to them next year. I look at Carlton losing Sam Jacobs (sure he is not Luke Ball) but probably worth more than what Adelaide were offering, in the end the blues made the deal and got a potential key defender they would not of have got otherwise and who knows he could turn out to be the next Glenn Jakovich and people say Carlton made the deal of the Century.
Searly
Guest
Macca et al, it raises an interesting question about clubs' approach to the draft. In a situation where everyone knows that a particular club is waiting for its opportunity to draft a particular player (I'm talking Ball to Collingwood at pick 30), is there ever a chance that a club will pick up that player earlier in an attempt to primarily undermine one of its immediate flag threats? Clubs are so concerned about their own list management that it seems unlikely, but I reckon there could have been a genuine benefit to other clubs in that case. Collingwood was so clearly going to gain from that arrangement that it must have been tempting to stymie them. Mind you, St Kilda was probably the club that would have benefitted most and since he was leaving St Kilda, it wasn't going to happen. The same applies to Krakouer last year. So outstanding was his WAFL form and so keen was Collingwood that I'm amazed other clubs just let it happen. Trades like Tarrant from Freo to Collingwood are also an example of a club allowing one of its clear flag rivals to benefit. Do you think clubs give this element of the draft/trade situation enough thought?
Macca
Guest
It's the Saints recruitng that has killed them they have effectively stood still over the last couple of years while everyone else got better. Where are the youngsters coming through, Geelong has Duncan, Taylor Hunt, Christiansen and Menzel playing at the moment who have the saints got? They recruited Lovett and had to sack him before he played a game, they picked up Peake who can hardly hold his spot, they got Dean Polo for who know why? The players in the team don't seem to have any pressure on them from players outside the team for spots which allows them to take the foot off and get distracted by off field rubbish. And as Searly said letting Ball go for nothing was just ridiculous, I heard a rumour they were offered Wellingham and rejected it, who got the better of that deal?
LK
Guest
How far can a siege mentality take you? The club has had an "us v them" thinking for awhile, it's tough to use that as motivation forever. At some point players have to grow up and take responsibility for their own actions. Their capt seems to think the media is out to get them, at the same time he picks up a pay cheque from ch 7.
Searly
Guest
I reckon it comes down to a couple of things. I've always felt with St Kilda in the past couple of years that their success was due almost primarily to their maniacal attack on the ball and unshirking commitment to every little structure and 1 per center. All good things, but I sensed that beyond that approach they were somewhat lacking in sheer talent. Even someone like Riewoldt owes his performances as much to sheer gut running and commitment than out and out talent. When that approach/commitment cracks even slightly, what you're left with is a pretty average team really. No game breakers, just grinders who are fast left behind. The other reason why this is so important is their dreadful and almost arrogant approach to trading and recruiting. Letting Luke Ball go into the draft (rather than trading for something in return) for seemingly no reason other than sheer, mindless pride was ridiculous and also allowed one of their closest rivals for the flag (Collingwood) to benefit enormously. Still, as a Pies fan, I'm not complaining! They also need to start generating a game plan that sees them kick more than 8 or 9 goals a game, even against lowly opposition. Seriously, they had like 1 goal to half time against the Crows last weekend! How many games can you win with that sort of output? To be honest, I'm over them (particularly Ross Lyon who I reckon is the main exponent of their mindless internal pride that has hurt them so much) and if they finish 16th (I'll admit the Suns might pip them for the spoon) then I won't be shedding any tears for them.
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner
Guest
I think there whole game was based on defence and not attack, and it has become to physically and mentallly draining. They dont seem able to go forward ATM, and for mine, i enjoy watching them fail, such a negative, dour game that is a great cure for insomnia. They actually do have some good forwards, why not use them, a nit of excitement, pump the boys up and let them go for it. Who was the last team to win a flag with such a negative game plan ??.
sheek
Guest
It would appear in the modern game, there is only a 2-4 year 'window' for a particular playing group to grab a flag, before either one of two things happen - they are overtaken by other equally talented, hungrier teams, or they simply fall off the pace. Port Adelaide were top dog for about 3-4 years, but unfortunately ran into the great Brisbane Lions. But luckily for their playing group, they had something to show with a flag in 2004. The Collingwood team of 2002-03 also ran into Brisbane & had nothing to show for two grand final appearances, but they made up for it in 2010. Sydney & WCE swapped flags in 2005-06 before both faded from the scene. Geelong won 2 from 3, & probably should have won all 3, but looking back, 2 out of 3 was a good effort. Hawthorn were supposed to build a dynasty off the back of their 2008 flag, but have gone all wobbly. They are probably an example of a team striking while the iron is hot, something St.Kilda failed to do in 2009-10. In the AFL, the spread of talent is generally even among the top 4-6 teams. So if you have a good year, you have to collect, otherwise it could be a long wait before you get your next opportunity.....
damos_x
Guest
Bit like Tiger Woods aren't they ? once the facade was revealed the whole thing has fallen apart.