The series continues as I count down my predictions for the finalists of the upcoming AFL season as we reach the team that will finish seventh.
7. St Kilda Saints
The Saints took the step they’d been waiting for last season, making the finals for the first time since 2011. The rise up the ladder can be attributed to smart recruiting and the appointment of Brett Ratten as full-time coach.
After the dismissal of Alan Richardson during the 2019 season, Ratten took over as caretaker coach, and his impressive tactical arsenal and fast-paced game style earned him the permanent appointment in the role.
Despite not coaching since a controversial sacking from Carlton, Ratten made an immediate impact, implementing a fast, forward-moving game plan that relied heavily on kicking instead of hand-balling. The Saints ranked fifth in the league in kicks per game and 14th in handballs per game.
What will excite their fans the most is the exciting brand of footy that they showed last year. The Hawthorn era of dominance this decade meant a lot of teams found themselves attempting to replicate their slower kick-mark style of game.
These Saints have found themselves a long way from this, executing a fast-paced style of ball movement that effectively used the speed of players such as Zak Jones and Dan Butler.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Richmond have shown that fast footy can easily dismantle opponents, and the Saints did just that on plenty of occasions.
What a job their list managers have done in the last 18 months. The highly documented 2019 off-season haul was a mixed bag at times (for every Butler, there is a Bradley Hill), but ultimately proved successful and was integral to making the finals.
The Saints scored the pick-up of the season in Dan Butler, who went from not cracking Richmond’s side in 2019 to leading the St Kilda goal kicking and making the All Australian squad of 40 in 2020. The best part is they only had to give up pick 56 for him, which is daylight robbery.
Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder slotted in perfectly to their roles and Zak Jones took his game to another level, cementing his spot in the Saints’ engine room.
However, the highest profile recruit of them all in Bradley Hill failed to deliver in his first season in the red, white and black.
Hill averaged only 15.4 disposals and 1.4 tackles a game. With such high expectations on him, Hill must improve next season.
Another exciting factor for Saints fans is their list additions over the most recent off-season. The acquisitions of superstar midfielder Brad Crouch, exciting ex-Tiger Jack Higgins and capable forward Shaun McKernan means they are in fantastic shape to expand on their 2020 season.
Brad Crouch is now a Saint. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Their defence found its feet last year, unearthing a great mix of damaging attackers and lock-down defenders.
The addition of Howard in the off-season strengthened the key defender post and Callum Wilkie has shown he is more than capable of shutting down the opposition’s most dangerous small forward while winning the footy himself.
The break-out seasons of Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield has provided a bright future for their back six as both still have plenty of room to grow.
The back six has become so reliable that some are even suggesting skipper Jarryn Geary may be squeezed out of the side.
While I believe he will still be in the team either as a lock-down defender or a defensive forward, it shows the strength and development in this side over the past few years.
I love the Saints’ midfield. The mix of inside bulls and outside runners has finally come together with their recent recruiting and the emergence of Jack Steele.
Pairing that with the ruck duo of Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall is just fantastic.
Brad Crouch will come to the club and pair perfectly with Jack Steele and speedster Zak Jones around the stoppages and if Dan Hannebery can get his body right, he will combine well with Bradley Hill on the wings. Hill will be desperate to improve on a disappointing season as mentioned above.
Steele’s 2020 season was remarkable as he went from a reliable tagger to superstar midfielder, finishing equal third in the Brownlow. He led the Saints in disposals, clearances, tackles and inside-50s, displaying his exceptional season.
With the addition of Crouch, Steele will not have to carry the load of inside midfielder on his own. Expect young guns Jade Gresham and Jack Higgins to spend time in the engine room too.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
The forward line is an intriguing one. It is not the flashiest nor the most star-studded in the league by any means, but they get the job done.
Last year they ranked fourth in points per game, and it basically all came from their forwards. Apart from Jack Steele, they don’t really get many of their goals from midfielders, with Steele the only midfielder kicking ten-plus goals for the year last year.
The addition of Crouch may see him spend more time forward this year, but they don’t rely on him. Dan Butler kicked 29 goals for the year, the second most of any small forward in the competition.
He wasn’t on his own either, with ten Saints hitting the double digits for goals kicked in the season, showcasing a solid all-around effort.
Former Tiger Jack Higgins is sure to chip in with some of his own, kicking 29 goals in his time in the yellow and black. He should increase that output with more opportunities at the Saints.
Throw in a more developed Max King and a vastly improved Rowan Marshall and the Saints looked poised to kick big scores again in 2021.
The Saints have nothing but upside heading into this season. The two finals they played last year provided crucial experience, and I can’t see them missing finals.
Some see them making the finals and I really can’t discredit that prediction. While I see them finishing seventh, I also see them making an appearance deep into finals. It’s an exciting time to be a Saints fan.
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Now that was a quick change of mind!
