Development

[portosaint]

Sydney the best in the game.

St Kilda the worst.

Simples. It was massively on show, and for mine, the most glaringly obvious difference between the two clubs.
Heaps of other factors... Coaching, culture, the fact the Saints look completely like they can't be bothered... But we were comprehensively smashed by a footy club that holds the development of their players at an absolute premium.

And unfortunately, the gulf is widening.

[Munga]

money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money
It helps

[robsaint]

Roos developed a program that has seen the Swans develop players. Ok they have been propped by the AFL a fair bit over the years with concessions but they have also been able to develop players from their rookie list better than most. The Saints don't seem to be able to develop players which makes us a non preferred club to go to. We have had trouble attracting quality players. The last time we did was when Blight was courted as coach. That was the start of a great era. We had pick 1 and 2 and class player like G-Train and Hamill come in.

[portosaint]

Money does help. But people are still the biggest factor in development