Alan Richardson admits St Kilda are a pretty ordinary team but the embattled coach maintains he and club president Peter Summers are still on the same page.
In a weekend radio interview, Summers spoke of pre-season expectations that the Saints would be around the top four this year.
Richardson’s side hasn’t come anywhere near that elite bracket, languishing in 16th with their only win coming in round one.
“I think where we’re at right now is a reflection of not meeting our capabilities more than setting expectations that are beyond those capabilities,” Summers told SEN.
Richardson agrees he has the talent at his disposal to be further up the ladder, but denies his president’s words amounted to a top-four ultimatum this season.
“Are you suggesting he was talking about this year? Because that’s not my understanding,” Richardson responded on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 when quizzed on Summers’ interview.
“He’s talking about us becoming (that top-four team) with the group that we have.
“I like the fact that our chairman has high expectations of our footy department and of our playing group.
“We all acknowledge that we’re not performing anywhere near that level at the minute and everyone is working their backside off to get there.”
Richardson maintained he was fully focused on fixing his team’s issues when asked if he feared for his job.
As they have done too often this season, the Saints were unable to put four quarters of footy together in a 38-point loss to Collingwood on Saturday night.
“If we can become much more consistent as a footy team … then we’ll end up being a really good footy team,” Richardson said.
“That’s been our challenge as coaches and players to make sure that we can be that. We’re clearly not at the moment.
“So we’re a pretty ordinary footy team at the moment based on our inability to be consistent.”
Mattyb
Guest
St.Kilda were no good in the VFL and while better due to equalisation are still not very good,what's there place in a national competition? Poor results,poor crowds,little of their own money,no one could be bothered caring about them, there such a minor threat they don't even get much pity. We have far to many VFL clubs,yet for reasons oblivious to any rational thinking there still around. Frankston have little relevance in the renamed VFA and this is the position Stkilda should be fulfilling.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
At what stage does Gilligan at the AFL become a man, stop dyeing his hair and make a call on kicking out three unworthy sides from our great comp? Carlton, St Kilda and the Suns must all go and go now.
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
I disagree. Expectations were too high. A close look at this list reveals they simply don't have the talent or experience to be a top-four side. Are they playing below their potential? Certainly. But if they were consistently doing what they are capable of, they would be about at good as they've been the last two years. That's the talent part of the equation. However, young players don't play consistent footy. The Saints are the 15th and 17th in the league when ranked by average age and experience, respectively. That's pretty significant. With that in mind, the expectations were too high.