Written at the beginning of the year - your thoughts?

[SainterK]

As it's slowing down news wise, this is an article written at the start of the year by foxsports. Thought it would be interesting to hear everyone thoughts on how our season actually progressed in comparison...


St Kilda Football Club

Profile by Scott Heinrich
foxsports.com.au

EVERYTHING looks in place for St Kilda to give the AFL premiership a big shake. That's the good news for fans.

The bad news is it’s looked that way for four or five years now, and promise has yet to translate into performance.

In fairness, only last year’s ninth-place finish was the real blip on what otherwise has been profile of slow, but sure, progression after the dark years of 1999-2003.

But with rebuilding complete, the time is now for the Saints to deliver. They have already done so to a small degree, winning the pre-season NAB Cup from Adelaide, but nobody at the club needs telling there are bigger fish to fry.

Of course, the club will be praying for a better run with injuries. Fate was not kind at Moorabbin in 2007, with key players such as Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire, Raphael Clarke, Michael Gardiner and Brendon Goddard (to name a few) reduced to virtual bystanders. With these players back and firing, and midfield star Luke Ball’s osteitis pubis problems behind him, St Kilda will have few excuses to hide behind this season.

Fraser Gehrig’s decision to play on after retiring can only be a plus for a forward line that misfired in 2007 but is already stocked with talent. Nick Riewoldt, should his knee problems subside, will again be of critical importance at centre half-forward, but look for goals from Justin Koschitzke and Stephen Milne. And goals will be needed: St Kilda were the lowest-scoring outfit last year for goals and total points.

St Kilda ranked 16th in 2007 for total disposals, but their game isn’t about excessive possession – and what they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality. Should ex-Geelong recruit Steven King and Gardiner form the kind of ruck combination St Kilda anticipate, runners the likes of Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Robert Harvey and Ball will get plenty of opportunity to show what they can do.

Throw mature-age recruits Charlie Gardiner (ex-Geelong) and Sydney premiership players Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster, and a playing list emerges that should be capable of a top-four finish at least. Injuries permitting, of course.

Star man – Leigh Montagna

Montagna really came of age in 2007, blowing opponents away with his great pace off the wing and collecting the most possessions (502) of anyone at St Kilda.

The 24-year-old, who came third in the Saints’ best-and-fairest award, also led the club for inside-50s as well as figuring prominently for tackles made. Entering his sixth season in the AFL, Montagna is probably also entering his best days as an Australian Football player.

[st_nick]

Fate was not kind at Moorabbin in 2007, with key players such as Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire, Raphael Clarke, Michael Gardiner and Brendon Goddard (to name a few) reduced to virtual bystanders. With these players back and firing, and midfield star Luke Ball’s osteitis pubis problems behind him, St Kilda will have few excuses to hide behind this season.

Much the same this season after all, although our overall run with injuries wasn't as bad.

Fraser Gehrig’s decision to play on after retiring can only be a plus for a forward line that misfired in 2007 but is already stocked with talent.

Or not....

Nick Riewoldt, should his knee problems subside, will again be of critical importance at centre half-forward, but look for goals from Justin Koschitzke and Stephen Milne.

Yes, no, and yes.

...a playing list emerges that should be capable of a top-four finish at least.

Well, we got it. Just.

[Saints Premiers 2008]

kosi still kicked 30 odd...

[SainterK]

30 goals is a good contribution...

I would like to see a good spread from all of our goal kickers next year, with an improvement from our midfielders having a shot at goal.

[Saints Premiers 2008]

one cannot expect kosi to boot the same amount that roo and milne kick if they both boot 60-70 each

the clear cut supply isn't there and considering the big boy plays around the ground and in the ruck at times its difficult to get close to the 50 mark

for instance mark williams was the hawks focal point a few years back...these days he is a finisher and only kicked 35-odd this year behind the two major goal kickers

having two players kick 60+ or a geelong style sharing contribution does equal success...the lions had the geelong style and look how it went for them

[S.A Saint]

our forward line goal kicking is fine...if they can all contribute the same amount of goals next year as they did this we should do alright....however all our midfielder need to kick from 5-10 goals more than they did this year if we are to have any chance of playing in the big one...

[St DAC]

one cannot expect kosi to boot the same amount that roo and milne kick if they both boot 60-70 each

the clear cut supply isn't there and considering the big boy plays around the ground and in the ruck at times its difficult to get close to the 50 mark

for instance mark williams was the hawks focal point a few years back...these days he is a finisher and only kicked 35-odd this year behind the two major goal kickers

having two players kick 60+ or a geelong style sharing contribution does equal success...the lions had the geelong style and look how it went for them

Well, that's just not right. Kosi played much of the year as a key forward. It's entirely reasonable to expect him to kick around 50 goals a year; that's only 2 and a bit a game. We don't get a lot of midfield goals, so our forwards have to kick hte score.

Roo around 60 is a great return.
Ditto Milne.
Schneider needs more.
Kosi needs more.

To be a flag threat the midfield needs to kick more goals as well.

[Saints94]

kosi still kicked 30 odd...

Thats not consistent enough for a man that has huge expectations

[SainterK]

one cannot expect kosi to boot the same amount that roo and milne kick if they both boot 60-70 each

the clear cut supply isn't there and considering the big boy plays around the ground and in the ruck at times its difficult to get close to the 50 mark

for instance mark williams was the hawks focal point a few years back...these days he is a finisher and only kicked 35-odd this year behind the two major goal kickers

having two players kick 60+ or a geelong style sharing contribution does equal success...the lions had the geelong style and look how it went for them

Well, that's just not right. Kosi played much of the year as a key forward. It's entirely reasonable to expect him to kick around 50 goals a year; that's only 2 and a bit a game. We don't get a lot of midfield goals, so our forwards have to kick hte score.

Roo around 60 is a great return.
Ditto Milne.
Schneider needs more.
Kosi needs more.

To be a flag threat the midfield needs to kick more goals as well.

Yes he played much of the year as a key forward, and much as a second ruckman which I realise is just a minor detail to some. We need more midfield goals, we need to improve on this area. Interesting he highlighted Joey as the one to watch this year, do we think he was a solid contributor and lived up to expectation?

[St Chris]

..... midfield star Luke Ball’s osteitis pubis problems behind him, St Kilda will have few excuses....

Apparently it's far more comfortable there....

It's called a groin relocation....

[Con Gorozidis]

hard to make sense of why the media were so bullish about the saints last year.

how many times in the last century has a team come from 9th (or lower) to win a flag. id be guessing very very few. anyone got the stats on that?

[plugger66]

hard to make sense of why the media were so bullish about the saints last year.

how many times in the last century has a team come from 9th (or lower) to win a flag. id be guessing very very few. anyone got the stats on that?

Yes you are right cannot remember it happening for years. By the way where did Geelong finish 3 years a go.