Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has unloaded on the Saints, calling on the AFL club to “get serious” about breaking their 55-year premiership drought.
Thomas, who led St Kilda from 2001 to 2006, has endorsed a bid by influential Saints figure Larry Benge to join the club’s board.
In doing so, Thomas is calling for “hard” decisions and changes to be made so St Kilda can challenge for a second VFL/AFL flag – and their first since defeating Collingwood by a point in the 1966 grand final.
He referred to the resurgence of Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, who ended their own barren runs in recent years.
After the Demons’ breakthrough grand final win last month, St Kilda now hold the mantle of longest current flag drought in the AFL.
“There are two types of teams in the competition – one that’s in the premiership business and the others that are just sort of playing AFL,” Thomas told SEN.
“I get the distinct feeling that the Saints are just happy playing AFL.
“Their best is finals, but the gap tells me that there is something wrong somewhere.
“I see Melbourne and the Bulldogs have gone past us in recent years and I just think if they can do it, there’s no reason why we can’t.
“But we’re not going to do it doing what we’re doing.
“We really need to enter the premiership business race.”
Thomas believes St Kilda haven’t “deserved success” but that could change.
“We haven’t made the right decisions, we haven’t done it properly and you don’t deserve anything in this world – you’ve got to earn it,” he said.
“Melbourne earned it this year in magnificent fashion… I suppose they’ve lit me up a bit.”
St Kilda shot up the ladder in 2020, making the top-eight for the first time in nine years, before falling to eventual premiers Richmond in the semi-finals.
After an inconsistent start this year, plagued by injuries, they finished 10th.
After the Saints’ last game of 2021, coach Brett Ratten told his players “why can’t it be us” winning the premiership next season.
“I see our supporters, exactly the same (as Melbourne) – starved of opportunity,” Ratten said.
“It takes a whole footy club to win it.”
St Kilda fell agonisingly short of the ultimate success in 2009 and 2010, with grand final defeats in successive years.
DarwinDee
Guest
The irony here is one of the reasons they were admitted to the VFL way back in 1896 was because they played at the junction oval...
Diesel-747
Roar Rookie
St Kilda are a mile of a GF. There very very ordinary
Boo
Guest
Kick to Kick yep some of the guys you pointed out can play I do have a Stkilda bias can't believe there isn't more heat on them for there mediocrity .Live near there last training ground in Seaford what a waste of money that was .To talk up there premiership chances with the list they have is spin nothing more .
Opps74
Roar Rookie
Did Grant Thomas father Kane Cornes...seriously uncertain how these two negative minded individuals actually get any air time...maybe publish an article that resembles a compliment or positive storyline...Grant Thomas views are irrelevant and demonstrates he requires to have his psychiatrist up his medication...I would listen to Thomas if he actually achieved something, merely making finals and having a fallout with your club doesn't warrant the afl world to listen...best if his views remain silent
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Yep, just bringing up Ratten because he was mentioned in the thread. Carlton said they wouldn't renew his contract if he didn't make finals, even though he'd made finals before 3 times and finished up 60/1/59. St Kilda are probably the only club worse than Carlton when it comes to pulling the trigger early on coaches, but only because the Blues sometimes hire their coaches back.
Stirling Coates
Editor
He was, but Grant Thomas was sacked after an EF loss in 2006.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Brett Ratten was sacked by Carlton after playing finals the year earlier.
Kick to Kick
Roar Rookie
Bit rough Boo. Not a stellar list and I think the only real current A grader is Steele with King and Marshall as future A grade prospects. But several players would make other sides. Ryder is an elite hit out ruckman, though aging. Zak Jones was a regular for the Swans and rates above average in most midfield stats. . Brad Hill can clearly play though the Saints aren’t getting his best. Brad Crouch makes most teams. Membery is a competitive second forward rated by Champion data as elite for disposals and kicks for a key tall. It’s the bottom eight that looks weaker than most teams. Maybe Grant Thomas is right and not having an evenly competent squad reflects a culture of mediocrity. But an unsuccessful former coach who engineered his own appointment resides a very particular glass house.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Forgot about Timmy.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yea l know how that feels being a Footscray supporter but the yearning for your original home is a strange thing that you breathe eat & sleep knowing you will retain this history for all time. Tell me Obsessed it must warm your heart that your lads can train at Punt Rd like my own at Whitten Oval! Stkilda don’t have that privilege it was removed; damn shame!
O M
Roar Rookie
You make a good point Chan. A bit like the nomadic Fitzroy. But I think the Saints have a great affection for their home at Moorabbin. They have just historically underperformed.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Only if they stayed at Junction Oval it may have been a more impressive stable club! Losing their spiritual home should be dispiriting ,well that’s my opinion!
O M
Roar Rookie
Of all the Teams in AFL, outside of Gold Coast and Freo, StKilda would be the toughest Team to be a supporter of.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Three successive finals series in fact before being sacked. Saints were very good at sacking their best coaches, Kenny Sheldon, Stan Alves, Thomas. Ross Lyon probably did the right thing jumping before the same thing happened to him. In between they replaced them with disasters such as Timmy Watson and Malcolm Blight.
Fraser Gehrig's Mullet
Roar Rookie
Saints had issues above the shoulders for a lot of the season. Their best was pretty good but their worst resembled training cones. They seem to have some plan around the draft and natural improvement and we’ll see how that pans out. I think their improvement in 2020 was due to high defensive pressure across the ground rather than just attacking transitions, and that was the first thing to disappear from the 2021 team. Their age profile will change a bit this year too, there’s only one or two over 30s in the starting team (Ryder +/- Hannebury) and who knows how many games they’ll play. With an easier draw and a better run with injuries (fingers crossed) they could surprise a few who’ve decided to write them off in October. I don’t really see how firing a bunch of people off field is going to make a sudden difference, it seems to be the gut reaction every few years when things don’t pan out
Simoc
Guest
It looked to me like St Kilda have the ability there but not the consistency. I'm told it was because of injuries. Ratten is the right coach. I reckon Voss will keep Carlton in the middle of the pack going nowhere. Melbourne were a cut above this last season so that is the new benchmark. I kept thinking they would soon revert back to their old ways and they never did. If any team can maintain that level of play through next season they will win the premiership. It's apparent every player needs to be onboard for the season with sole focus on the flag. They all say that but ructions happen.
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Recycled coach. ; Traded in use by date players on big contracts. As i,ve said before need real football people in club ie Balme , Hocking etc Ratten first coach sacked 2022 replaced by R Harvey , Interesting side bet. Does Hannebery play more games than StKilda win Saints supporter
Boo
Guest
Mark Williams , Voss or Leppirsch.IMHO Ratten is too confusing can't develop a game plan that will win a flag .
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Rotten is correct to ask the question & hopes he can stir some emotion over the pre season!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Thommo been on the red again?