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The Saints are truly marching in

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Roar Guru
26th July, 2020
8

Ever since a massive trade and free agency period back in late 2019 many people have asked one question about the Saints: can they play finals footy?

So far this season they’ve shown they can be a finals team now and in the foreseeable future.

Some may have said they don’t deserve to play finals because they’ve been a little inconsistent throughout this year, but after last night’s performance against ladder leaders Port Adelaide some may have changed their views.

Here’s why they should be considered finals contender.

Dan Butler of the Saints celebrates a goal

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Schedule
The Saints have had a bit of a tough start to the season, facing six teams who’ve been in the top eight (Collingwood, Richmond, Carlton, Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide, plus North Melbourne). They’ve won against four of those opponents (Carlton, Richmond, Bulldogs and Port Adelaide) along with a victory against Adelaide.

Their next block of fixtures isn’t too easy either. They’re facing Geelong, Essendon, the up-and-coming Gold Coast squad and the Swans. However, after that, they face only one top-eight team, the Lions. They also still have to face Greater Western Sydney, West Coast and Melbourne.

With potential top-eight rivals including the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Geelong and even Essendon having a tough last few weeks, the Saints are in the driver’s seat to make it to finals this year for the first time in nine years.

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Stardom and talent
Over recent years the Saints have developed a strong list, gaining future and current stars from their draft picks, including Jack Billings, Jade Gresham, Hunter Clark and a few others along the way.

They also got some star players through trades and free agency as well, especially this off-season when they gained Dan Butler, Zak Jones, Brad Hill, Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder. They also picked up near star players in previous years, including Dan Hannebery, Dean Kent and Jake Carlisle.

Those trades and draft acquisitions are paying off. Butler is currently third in the Coleman Medal tally, fifth in tackles inside 50 per game and sixth in score involvements per game among small forwards.

Max King has been super in his first year too, averaging 1.5 contested marks per game (seventh among key forwards), 2.9 ground ball gets (sixth among key forwards) and 4.9 contested possessions per game (tenth among key forwards) and has kicked 11 goals, averaging 1.4 goals a game from 2.4 shots at goal per game (58.3 per cent goal efficiency).

Zak Jones has been great too, averaging 9.7 contested possessions a game (25th among midfielders) along with 19.1 disposals per game (top 50 among midfielders). He’s formed a lethal midfield with Jack Steele, Paddy Ryder and Jade Gresham.

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But Steele has been the star of the show, averaging 21.3 disposals per game (23rd among midfielders), 10.6 contested possessions (17th among all positions), 4.6 clearances (equal 24th among all positions) and six tackles per game (fifth among all positions).

Along with those four and the rest of their team, they’re currently top in goals per game (10.9), first in points (71.1 per game), equal second last in behinds (5.9 per game), seventh in disposals (295.6 per game), sixth in clearances (30.5 per game), sixth in tackles (49.5 per game), fourth in effective disposals (210 per game) and second in marks per game (75.1).

Max King of the Saints celebrates a goal

(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Depth
Everyone knows how crucial depth is in current day AFL. While most teams have decent but not elite depth and some have solid depth, a few have truly great depth. St Kilda have that great depth – in fact it has near-elite depth.

Players like Nathan Brown, Dylan Roberton, Shane Savage and Jack Lonie, who were regulars these last few years, aren’t playing any footy, yet they’re not injured. That’s how great it is.

And with players like Josh Battle, Luke Dunstan, Dan Hannebery and Ben Long out injured or suspended, they’ve got enough depth to cover that, gaining players such as entertainment machine Matthew Parker, Jack Sinclair (third in inside 50s per game), Nick Hind and young Nick Coffield, who continues to improve in the backline every game.

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There are many other reasons St Kilda are so good, including a great coach in Brett Ratten, a solid coaching staff in general and other weapons, including Jack Billings and Jade Gresham.

But those players, their schedule, their team and their extraordinary depth are their greatest assets this season. If they continue to improve and continue to dominate, even if they lose some of their good players, then look out, AFL.

The Saints are marching in for another finals series.

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