While lots of attention is, quite rightly, being paid to West Coast’s ominous dismantling of Collingwood on Sunday, it was a fourth-quarter clinic in St Kilda’s win over Port Adelaide that caught my eye on the weekend.
Leading by one point against the ladder-leaders on their home deck, the Saints piled on five straight goals to two behinds to claim 29-point win that catapulted them to third on the ladder. Sure, there were some lucky finishes in that last quarter – Paddy Ryder’s freakish snap and Tim Membrey’s score review stunner – but make no mistake; they comprehensively dominated Port Adelaide that quarter and the margin was an accurate reflection of their performance.
It was St Kilda’s second straight win at the Adelaide Oval after ten consecutive losses at the venue and 13 straight in South Australia. The last Saints coach to win a game in the city of churches was Ross Lyon. They’ve knocked off legitimate contenders in the Bulldogs and Richmond, while two of their three losses were by single-figure margins in matches they dominated for large stretches.
Just how good is this St Kilda outfit?
I’ve yo-yo’d a bit on the Saints in 2020. When Brett Ratten replaced Alan Richardson at the back end of last year, with the club going on a signing spree soon after, I thought they’d comfortably be the best of the newly-coached sides. Then, after their second-half collapse against North Melbourne in Round 1, I wondered whether a bottom four finish could be an acceptable result as they spent another year working out their cattle.
I should have just stuck to my guns.
Everyone knew Ratten deserved another chance at the top, but the quick manner in which he’s transformed the side has defied all expectations. Gone are the dull, meandering Saints who were as exciting as a game of Truth or Dare with Coldplay (grab the cheese sandwiches and turn the amps up to four!) – now, we’re treated to a daring, slick, attack-focused list who play some of the nicest-looking footy and pull it off.
With 569 points to their name, they’re the second-highest scoring team in the competition – just three points behind Brisbane. In a season bemoaned for a lack of scoring, they’ve put at least 70 on the board for five straight weeks – easily the AFL’s longest current streak.
Impressively, they’ve managed this despite averaging just under 39 inside 50s per game, fourth-lowest in the AFL, with their superb marking prowess inside 50 and ferocious tackling pressure if the ball hits the ground more than making up for it. St Kilda have rocketed from 12th to 3rd for tackles inside 50 this season, while their opponents average just 27 rebound 50s per game – second-worst in the comp.
Brett Ratten has turned the Saints around in impressive time. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Ratten deserves enormous credit for this turnaround, but a brave trade period where they said goodbye to some big names while bringing in a host of fresh faces is – so far – paying enormous dividends.
It’s not just the quantity of quality acquisitions they’ve brought in – at mostly reasonable prices – it’s the fact they’ve targeted just about every area of the ground they needed help with effectively.
In the midfield, the loss of Jack Steven has allowed Jack Steele to blossom into career-best form, with Zak Jones adding a sorely-needed injection of pace and a penetrative kick to the middle and Brad Hill adding plenty of class on the outside.
Hill’s stature will always lend itself to excessive scrutiny, but he’s played his role. Jones, on the other hand, has also blossomed into career-best form and could wind up being an absolute steal.
Speaking of absolute steals, Dan Butler has revolutionised St Kilda’s forward structure and is equal-fourth in the Coleman medal race with 15 goals. Importantly, his 16 tackles inside 50 currently lead the AFL. He’s 24 years old and the Saints scored him with pick 56 – already an unfathomable bargain.
Dan Butler (left) has been an absolute steal. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
While not strictly an acquisition, the arrival of highly-touted key forward Max King has already vindicated the decision to let Josh Bruce walk. Like twin brother Ben, his overhead contested marking is downright ridiculous and the superb tandem he’s formed with Tim Membrey has exceeded all expectation.
Dougal Howard has also been a very handy addition down back. St Kilda still have a problem dealing with tall forwards, but his combination with Jake Carlisle has brought their conceded marks inside 50 numbers down from last year’s catastrophic totals.
Paddy Ryder’s acquisition is the one I’m still working out. I don’t think he and Rowan Marshall can occupy the same 22 all the time and I suspect he was partially brought in to provide Membrey a sidekick if King needed more time in the two’s.
While Dan Hannebery’s injury issues are reaching the point where a return to full form isn’t guaranteed, if he can get back on the park before finals it could be another game-changer.
The Saints might not boast that much exciting talent outside the names mentioned, but they’ve performed what looks to be a masterclass in list recalibration in a very short while.
With many of 2020’s heaviest hitters out of the way already, there’s no reason St Kilda can’t play finals for the first time in the 18-team era.
Their next block of confirmed fixtures sees them take on the Swans, Suns, Cats and Bombers and, on current form, anything fewer than three wins would be a disappointment. Banking those points will be crucial too, with Brisbane, Greater Western Sydney and West Coast among the five opponents they’ll face in the as-of-yet unfixtured home stretch.
They’re not without their problems. They looked decidedly ordinary in their thumping 44-point loss to Collingwood a while ago, while the fact they’ve given up a 30-point lead and lost to a bottom four side twice this season would indicate they’re not all there yet.
But with the interstate curse broken emphatically over the last fortnight, I’d put my money on the Saints marching into finals.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The question I have with the saints is does their footy stand up in the pressure cooker of finals. They’re over performing at the moment so is that a statistical anomaly or the average of their performances. You also can never write their opposition off. That being said I think they should be aiming to win an elimination final at least
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Essendon couldn’t have kept Ryder. One opposition supporter asked his wife whether she was worried about the health of their unborn child given the supplements saga. That was taking barracking to a new level.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Great list now and one of the great recruiting efforts of the modern era, but new lists often need a bit of time to "gel", particularly when coupled with a new coach and playing style. All the ingredients are there, it will just be how quickly they learn how to make the most of each other's strengths and cover team weaknesses. I would expect them to continue to improve as they become more used to each other so look out for them by the end of the season.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Coffield is a little bit behind Clark with his development but he is a great kick and mark of the ball. Might need to take his time more with some of his decisions but he is getting better each week.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Think the Saints have the upper hand with the brothers strong connection to St Kilda and their love for the club. GC would demand a very high pick for him and rightly so but it would be worth getting him. The question will come up again in 2 years about his availability and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Lonie is a bit inconsistent and has been forced out by Kent, who has been hitting the scoreboard more than him. He might get back into the side this week for Parker or Sinclair, who weren't great on the weekend. Lonie can play some great games and has some good skills but he needs to work on his consistency. Nothing wrong with making him earn his spot in the side. Would like to see Bytel debut this weekend. He was rated pretty highly in the 2018 draft but dropped to pick 41 after being touted as a top 20 pick. Would be interested to see what he can do and would serve a similar role in the team to Hannerbery.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Lions don't have a ruckman so that is far from ideal for them. Will have to rely on the big O who gives them an option up forward. I hope the top 8 gets a bit of a shake up this year. Sick of seeing the same sides make it each year that have a boring brand of footy.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Hope so. Your mob gave them a touch up in R3 but tbh that defeat was nowhere near as bad as the losses to Freo and North this year. They just have to stay consistent and I think they have shown enough that they are capable of making finals. Been a long time between drinks for them since they made finals back in 2011.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Coffield underrated. He’s been great this season.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Very true. If you could lure Ben King, that’s the best long term result. Hope they succeed, as Suns said they’d try their best to bring Max over. Although Suns may have been bluffing, since St Kilda got ahead of themselves by openly and repeatedly talking about “reuniting the twins”. I’d like to see the two Kings together in one team, and watch them give defenders headaches. And also if only, to see commentators get their names right. BT already mixes up a fair few obvious people that hardly look alike- slim chance he’ll handle two identical Kings in the same kit.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Disagree about King. He is going to be a juggernaut forward in a few years and they do not grow on trees. He has kicked 11 goals in 8 games for a first year player in reduced minutes. Quite a good output for a guy taking the opposition’s best defender each week as a first year player. I have been very impressed with him and he has been consistent. Been a big upgrade on Josh Bruce, who has been dreadful at the Dogs. Rozee has been very good for Port but seems a bit too flashy for me and I would argue it would be easier to get a player like him from another club rather than a key forward. In saying that, I would like to have him playing for the club but King will be a better player I reckon. I would also like to see the Saints go after Ben King if he becomes available. Him and Max would be extremely dangerous up forward and it is the stuff of dreams for a supporter. He did have an injury last year but he seems to be moving pretty well in spite of it. I think it might be a work rate or attitude issue as to why he isn’t performing to a level that everyone expected each week. I hope he is close to busting a game wide open soon with the skills he has at his disposal. Think they would be taking a careful approach with him on the money his earning but it is a bit concerning nevertheless. The medical team have been very cautious with Hannebery but it looks like it doesn’t matter with him since his hamstrings seem to have deteriorated too much to handle the rigours of the sport unfortunately.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: can’t argue with that, Port are going well, history say the wheels should fall off, but, after all, it’s history. Lions looking good. Pies will just keep on going. GC might start to slow down, Saints are firing, Carlton showing some. Dogs, I hope they have an off night this week.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Yeah making finals should be the objective first. Still need a bit more class in the midfield but never say never. This year has been so unpredictable that a side like them could win it if everything goes right. WC should be favourites though with their big advantage at home and a fit list and I wouldn't write off Richmond either.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Agreed. If you could get Kelly that would be amazing. (And to be greedy, even Cameron). If you got Cameron, I’d trade for King for Rowell. There’s the debate whether you should have drafted Rozee over King, and I think Rozee would have been more beneficial long term. But a tall Key Forward is always handy. So probably evens out. Watching Hill, He give me the ominous feeling his knee is going to blow any minute. I sincerely hope not, but there’s a niggling knee injury there that he’s come off with already. (Came with it from Freo). Hopefully the St Kilda medical team are on top of it.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Ryder is a great player. Turned the clock back on the weekend after I and a many others were having doubts about him. Very versatile player that is a matchwinner when he is at his best. Always thought Essendon should have kept him. He was sublime at the Bombers between 2012 and 2014. Almost won them that final in 2014 against North with that brilliant snap from 60m out.
peter chrisp
Guest
Being a Pies fan you have a great coach & a few weeks ago in my footy tipping for some reason i went for The Saints to knock off Richmond & that to me was one of my fave selections. Rather than i guess the usual suspects in the top 8, it would be good to see St.Kilda somewhere in the 8. What a brilliant victory over Port & that should give the side confidence for the rest of the year
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Been a tough last 10 years for the Saints since the painful loss in the 2010 gf but it looks like they have finally recovered from it. They are a tough side to follow due to the fact they haven’t been very successful for a long time but that is what support and committment is all about when you follow a side. WC and Hawthorn fans have it easy with their teams pretty much guaranteed success every decade but that is because they are professionally run clubs that the Saints should be looking to emulate. Agree that they are probably one or two A-graders short to truly contend for a flag, particularly in the midfield. Kelly from GWS would be an excellent addition to the midfield if we could acquire him and it would help solve some of the issues with the class in there. Hill is a quality player with elite skills that they got last year but hasn’t shown enough this season. Hannebery has sadly failed and is too injury prone but can be replaced. Frustrating to see him get another long term injury after he was showing good signs at the start of the season. Will be interesting to see how St Kilda match up to a side like WC or Brisbane when they play them. WC probably are too experienced for the Saints atm and they will be a very tough team to beat for the rest of the year.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Also, Jack Lonie is in their best 22. Why was he omitted last week? Hopefully just to give others a chance and nothing more... Anyway, Lonie should always be a starter.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
The score line was crazy and it is hard to believe that it was the most accurate performance in front of goal in the history of the AFL. They are going at about 65% accuracy for goal kicking this year but kicking one point for the whole game isn’t sustainable and I agree with you there. It was just one of those nights where the Saints were just switched on and did almost everything right. Port did miss some sitters and there is no denying that.That Powell-Pepper miss was very costly and it was quite an easy goal to nail when the Saints were up by 7 points in the last quarter. Would be frustrating as a supporter and I can relate to it. The Saints were horrendous at goal kicking for years under Richo and Ben Dixon but we bring Ratten and Roughead in and they are one of the best in the league now. Richo and Ben Dixon must have been teaching them the wrong techniques or something lol.because under them, they couldn’t hit the side of a barn.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Hopefully very far, for my friend’s sake. (And the League’s sake - gets a bit boring when it’s the same 3-4 teams dominating year in year out). After an intro to AFL was watching a whole 2-3 years of some thoroughly mediocre/ below mediocre Saints, it’s nice to see them on the up, playing one of the most exciting styles atm. My lifelong Saints supporter friend suffers from depression, and seeing Saints (finally) doing well has perked him up a wee bit. Which in these times goes a long way. I hope they attract more stars to their list. They’re just missing someone with a bit of “X Factor” to give them the PR and marketing power required. Made a good start with last year’s recruits, but need to get 1 or 2 big names.