“Ah well.”
I watched the football on the weekend with a St Kilda supporting friend: Matthew, the poor fella.
And that’s how he conceded defeat while Melbourne were still in the race of Etihad Stadium, before the first bounce on Sunday.
Can we blame him? I did. Come on, this was the game where we would really see where St Kilda were really at. Lining up against a team that started their ‘rebuild’ at the same time, at a venue that has not always been friendly to the Demons.
Then again, maybe my long-suffering friend had a point. His beloved Saints have scored over 75 points just once this season, poor form even by the “rapidly declining standard of the game” as it stands in 2018.
Maybe things just felt a bit off: in gorgeous Autumn sunlight in Melbourne, the roof was closed as if to shut out any hope of a St Kilda resurgence.
Or maybe, he is just unfortunately realistic.
Quick to dismiss his own assertions as nothing more than nervous cynicism, we both filled with hope as some sharp ball movement and quick thinking from the Saints’ raging bull Jack Steven saw a clean delivery on to the chest of Paddy McCartin. Then came the commentators’ chance to feed off the collective apprehension of a St Kilda set shot.
They’d mused for the past half an hour in the pre-game about St Kilda’s woeful conversion in front of goal, and the contagious effect of inaccuracy. So, the fact that not just any player, but the much-hyped number one draft pick, key forward, halo-wearing would-be-St Kilda saviour would have the chance to right the wrongs with a set shot and nail down the first goal of the game was just perfect for the theatre of it all.
Naturally, he pulled it left and the Saints had 0 goals, 1 behind.
We laughed with a dreaded sense of déjà vu.
Big Paddy missed another before small forward Jade Gresham was quick to pounce inside 50 and got the Saints on the board with a major soon after. There were some promising signs, the ball was being moved quickly and the Saints were looking to attack.
Gresham then took a mark 35 out and kicked it out on the full. To quote Brian in the commentary box, it was all “an extraordinary jack off.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne kicked into gear and started playing football reminiscent of their third quarter against the bombers. Unrivalled pressure and speed saw the Demons kick 4 quick goals, but the Saints rallied, and in the face of Melbourne’s pressure, upped their own.
Jimmy Webster sprinted back bravely in the back pocket to affect a spoil and force the ball out of bounds, preventing a certain goal. Maybe things weren’t all bad.
The second quarter started with another three behinds, before Tim Membry slotted a set shot, perhaps putting to bed, however briefly, memories of last week’s goal square farce. All the while, Melbourne managed another three, and St Kilda struggled their way to halftime 28 points behind.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Two beers down as he was at this point, Matthew’s pre-game ruminations were looking more accurate by the minute; for whatever progress St Kilda made, none of it seemed easy or free-flowing. Their play had begun to stagnate, and efforts to use the corridor for quick and attacking movement were characterised by inefficiency and errors in execution.
Where possession was turned over, there appeared a swathe of blue jumpers, and the ball was snaffled up and shared about between them.
Two quick goals to start the third quarter and maybe the Saints were a chance? Just enough to keep us interested, before Melbourne appropriately put a run on, enough to shut the door and see the TV turned off. Again.
Alan Richardson describes his side as “being in a hole” at the moment. Maybe they were in a hole four years ago, one which has seemingly turned into a bottomless pit, that is both seemingly impossible to get out of, and insufferably difficult to watch them try.
Jack Steven and Seb Ross are impressive. Their effort, passion and fervour characterise the attitude of leaders of any team – especially one that is currently hampered by inexperience. To a neutral supporter, it feels like they are having a real crack, but their problems are too many and varied to overcome.
Their struggles in front of goal are nigh on laughable and significantly deflating. They don’t have a consistent defensive structure, which allowed Melbourne, on multiple occasions to find far too much space on the attacking side of the centre circles, and they lack flair or variation out of the middle.
At the moment, it seems we can all but draw a line through their hopes of finals or even matching their 11-win 2017 season. Rebuild or otherwise, St Kilda are struggling to find any semblance of form at the moment, and it seems to warrant a bit more than an “ah well” from those down at Moorabbin.
Mattyb
Guest
Now dry your eyes,and turn your head away.
Kane
Guest
People are finding you, the ghost or who ever else you are masquerading as easy to ignore too matty as you may have noticed.
me too
Guest
All these doomsayers - we've heard it all before. The Saints are one of just four foundation clubs of both the VFA and VFL. They have survived far leaner times and have just moved back to Moorabbin with the backing of the AFL. The SouthEast corridor is theirs and theirs alone. They are a sleeping giant in contrast to dying giants like Carlton. I agree the club seems to be adopting a wait and hope attitude on the field - they stupidly signed Richo to a 2 year extension for no good reason and with the move back are in debt. But we are finally free of paying off Etihad and will be earning much more revenue even with the smaller crowds the poor onfield performance brings. The club needs to remove Richo despite the costs - the players are lacking confidence in him and the game plan. It is that lack that has seen skills deteriorate. There is no on field leadership with Roo and Joey gone so we need a strong coach that has the respect of the players. The saints we saw last year against GWS, Hawthorn, and Richmond are still there. The great 55 point comeback against the Dogs was all on the back of the youngsters. They have the cattle - but we need much better development and coaching and we need an onfield captain that is a leader, not a tryer. Currently we have a coach that has no tactical nous - our game plan is simple to counter and he has no alternative bar dropping a forward back to help plug a hole. It'll be a few years before we are contending but on our longer term survival we'll be fine.
Birdman
Guest
snap! totally on the money Paul D.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Haha, I remember having this argument with you Harry. https://www.theroar.com.au/2017/11/13/saint-nicks-retirement-chance-st-kilda-bury-demons/ Not sure why you'd bring it up again, given you wound up looking like a massive blowhard
Birdman
Guest
what complete revisionist BS! NO professional footballer would have done anything different than Milne - 99 times out of a 100 it bounces into his arms and the Pies are left crying again at the end of a GF.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
For me when Goddard took that amazing mark then went back, slotted the goal, thumped his chest.....thought we were done. I had witnessed heartbreaking GF losses in 77, 79, 81 (1980 and 2003 we were belted and never in it and was too young for 1970), 2002 and I thought here we go again. At that moment I believed the Saints would finish all over us. After we somehow scrambled a draw I woke up the next day and knew we would win the following week. Just shows how the roll of a ball can decide history. Right now, we'd be talking about the Saints flag in 2010 and what has happened to them since instead of the Pies flag in 2010 and what has happened to us since.
Don Freo
Guest
Yet you hestitate to speak about Essendon every weekend these days. I can imagine that any kid you coach would laugh at you if they read your comments on The Roar. You don't really know much.
Loser
Guest
They’ll get shipped off to tassie first.. when that fails the hawks will gobble them up
Mattyb
Guest
I find the relentless enthusiasm towards the blues,especially during the preseason months boring personally,especially when it's followed by yet more sorrowful seasons year after year,but I find it easy to ignore some of these ongoingly outrageous claims of glory. On the other hand,critiscism of that tragic club is always met with enthusiasm,never simply ignored. I would have thought boring comments would easily be simply ignored,it seems a really simple concept. Pity does have a place,but eventually excuses run out. I'm one of those of the belief the Saints will be swallowed whole by the Hawks and believe the Hawks have already put the wheels in motion and have begun rolling in. Carlton have a chance with the next rebuild if they can find a few players during this one for survival,I see very little future for StKilda. While this is undoubtably unfortunate,I find the game far more important than individual clubs,especially underperforming ones that offer little towards future growth.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
FACT: Milne hesitated for a second in the 2010 GF instead of attacking the footy! I use the Milne incident to highlight to my young blokes what NOT to do. I have a poster of Milne standing by that ball in the dying seconds and I wrote across it, "NEVER HESITATE"! Cost them a flag over the filth. He who hesitates is lost said a great man, probably me come to think of it.
David Rayner
Guest
Well crafted. Agreed. Sigh.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I think the Blues are undertaking best established practice in the way they are trying to build and develop their list these past few years to try and put things back together. I do think they need to recruit some mature aged players at the end of this season though. I also think the Blues come in for relentless and boring criticism on these pages so naturally I'm on the side of wit and originality in usually defending them against these turgid rants Just because Saints fans aren't here doesn't mean they don't exist. There's just not as many of them as other clubs in Melbourne. There's a few people on here reckon the Hawks will gobble them up in coming decades and I'm inclined to agree.
Cat
Roar Guru
Two seasons ago was just the last gasp effort from the almost champions. No Saint Nick no Saints.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
and yet Paul, Carlton are doing exactly the same and you seem to think the Blues are doing it the right way? People talk about how the Pies should have won multiple flags since 2010 but forget how good the Saints were in 2009-2010. I know it is just a snapshot in The Roar, but any Saints articles also don't attract many comments at all which is a sign of giving up.
Bozza
Guest
Good piece. Hard to believe that two seasons ago this team missed the finals by percentage. There are some very hard decisions that need to be made over the next few months because something has gone horribly wrong when not that long ago it seemed to be going very right.
Mattyb
Guest
A well written piece Andrew. As someone with a sense of historical interest,as well as an interest in the future of our game,I simply do not see any future for StKilda in a national competition unfortunately. I think their AFL history is slightly better overall than its VFL history,but that's not saying much. The only thing keeping StKilda in this comp is the VFL centric nature of it. Performances are ongoingly poor,crowds disappointing and their financial situation less than ideal. A much better restructured VFL competition would be a much better home for the Saints and the game long term. The league needs to concentrate on expansion and there are a number of old VFL clubs that continue to underperform in many areas,holding the game back from its full potential.
Paul D
Roar Guru
St Kilda have all the problems of Brisbane (huge debt, last choice for free agents) but without the advantage of geographic immunity They're in deep trouble long term. I thought Sam Fisher nailed it in his interview the other day - a lot of their high draft picks just haven't developed or come along. And I maintain - that this will keep on happening, so long as clubs keep throwing a bunch of kids into the mix with no seasoned, or elite mentors. If you have your high end draft picks surrounded by a bunch of aging jobbers then you should not be surprised at all when they turn out to be jobbers themselves.
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
Wayne, thanks for your reply. That Good Friday game was the lowest of the low. The skills were almost non-existent. Generally, I feel like there is some promise there, but at times the effort wanes for too long in periods of games, and this makes it hard to put out a competitive performance. Hopefully things can turn around for St Kilda sooner rather than later.
Wayne
Roar Guru
As a Saints fan, it is hard to watch what the club/team are doing. It honestly looks like some of the players are just going through the motions. I flew down to Melbourne for the Roos/Saints Good Friday game, and I commented the mini league was a better standard. The lack of basic skills is a worry. That's not something that can be a quick fix, and another few seasons at the bottom may risk crippling the club permanently as free agents will leave, and only twilight players will come in. Or we will have to pay well overs to attract anyone.