Will our time ever come?

[R. Harvey 3 votes!]

I am 32 years old and have been supporting the saints all of my life. I have been a member for the past 20 years since I was 12, I go almost every week and hardly ever miss a game and this year I went to Adelaide and Perth. When is our time ever going to come?
It seems lately that other teams are getting there chance like Sydney after 72 years, geelong last year and even hawthorn yesterday after 17 years. 1997 still hurts like hell and with a bit of luck injury wise we could have won that grand final and even one in 2004 or 2005 aswell. Imagine if we have to wait 72 years like Sydney? Gee I would be 62! All I want is that one flag, it would mean so much to me and many other long suffering loyal saints supporters. I have a geelong mate who is the same age as me and he is inconsolable at the moment after yesterday's grand final loss, which is in contrast to last year when he was in another world after finally seeing a premiership. It’s funny how one man’s pain is another man’s bliss because I would give anything to lose a grand final we were meant win if it meant we had already won one the year before! Oh when oh when we will be singing Oh when the saints go marching in after the grand final? We are way overdue….Carn the mighty sainters!

[Winmarvellous]

I honestly think we are another ten years away. With the Gold Coast and West Sydney teams coming in we are in the worst shape of all teams in the comp IMHO. No rising stars, no draft picks, and nowhere to go but down. We aren't in the Geelong class, or even Hawthorn for that matter. I see nothing but gloom in the coming years. Life as a Saints supporter I s'pose....

[matrix]

I am 32 years old and have been supporting the saints all of my life. I have been a member for the past 20 years since I was 12, I go almost every week and hardly ever miss a game and this year I went to Adelaide and Perth. When is our time ever going to come?
It seems lately that other teams are getting there chance like Sydney after 72 years, geelong last year and even hawthorn yesterday after 17 years.
1997 still hurts like hell and with a bit of luck injury wise we could have won that grand final and even one in 2004 or 2005 aswell. Imagine if we have to wait 72 years like Sydney? Gee I would be 62!
All I want is that one flag, it would mean so much to me and many other long suffering loyal saints supporters.

I have a geelong mate who is the same age as me and he is inconsolable at the moment after yesterday's grand final loss, which is in contrast to last year when he was in another world after finally seeing a premiership. It’s funny how one man’s pain is another man’s bliss because I would give anything to lose a grand final we were meant win if it meant we had already won one the year before!

Oh when oh when we will be singing Oh when the saints go marching in after the grand final? We are way overdue….Carn the mighty sainters!

thats better......now i can read it

[saintsrus]

We all know how your feeling, it cuts deeply after every gf speech.
Clarkeson when asked didnt think their ultimate success would come so quickly, we had to take our chances in 04 and 05.


At least we have the Bulldogs to share our grief

[To the top]

Don't despiar!

It is not that long back that St Kilda had that "premiership feeling" by just winning a game.

Now we have played in 3 Preliminary Finals in 6 years, beaten each time by the eventual Premier.

We are not that far off, a bit of luck and maybe (as an optimum) 6 players. And a fair bit more hard work.

The more concerning sentiment is that Hawthorn have a supporter base off a consistently successful period, where kids will be attracted to successful sides because they are successful - and they will disappear when that side is not successful but they re-appear when they are successful.

St Kilda is losing a core of support - so the ultimate success is a requirement, as is the continuation of this (relatively) successful period in the club's history.

You have to be up there in able to win it - and at the least we are up there - and that, in itself, is a change.

[oh when]

I've been to every GF since 1971 - I've seen Hawthorn win 9 flags, Carlton 6, North, Dons 4, Tigers, WCE, Lions 3, Crows 2, Syd, Geel, Port, Filth 1, Saints, Foots Melb, Freo 0- I say oh when - I hope our players feel the envy I have watching other clubs lift the cup.

[Munga]

I think if we don't win one in the next four years, we could be waiting a fair while longer.

[markp]

It'll come and make the entire wait seem worthwhile.... you just gotta enjoy the story and the ride in the meantime.

[ace]

The two teams that played yesterday are vastly superior to St Kilda.

I find it absurd that these two clubs have the same salary cap as St Kilda and yet St Kilda were not even eligible for a pick in last years pre season draft due to salary cap limitations.

Clearly there are a number of players getting fat on their salaries. If the club valued players accurately salary cap limitations would not be a consideration during trade week or the pre season draft.

The list needs considerable improvement before a premiership becomes a realist opportunity and the first step is freeing up space within the salary cap.

[ace]

There are more than a lack of premierships that the four clubs St Kilda, Footscray Melbourne and Fremantle have in common.
They are all SOFT.
But worst of all is an acceptance of lower levels of commitment and toleration of softness.

[thejiggingsaint]

I'm afraid I have to agree with Ace. There's a distinct lack of hardness at the club off field and on! The title of this thread says it all for me. Our "time" WILL come..but only if we stop bitching about other clubs, the AFL, the umpires the media and so on and on... and GET REAL!!!!!
We will succeed when we put in the effort!!!!!! Can anyone honestly say we put in the effort against Hawthorn or Geelong when it mattered? We beat Collingwood well but instead of building from it collapsed in a heap!
I will NEVER give up on the Saints, but I'm long past the stage of thinking that just having a "list" is enough to become a great club!
MAKE it happen!!! or accept more of the same for years!

[WayneJudson42]

Nah, we'll be fine...

Best practice off field systems are in place. We have a good solid core who are reaching their peak.

We aren't as far away as people think. We need some further list turnover, and development.

Most inportantly, we need to toughen up mentally... which I believe will happen.

We WILL be competitive for the next 3 to 4 years IMHO.

[Winmar]

+1 on the softness front. We were hard in 2004, but certainly aren't any more. Too many wiry blokes who don't get stuck in properly.

[Enrico_Misso]

I've been to every GF since 1971 - I've seen Hawthorn win 9 flags, Carlton 6, North, Dons 4, Tigers, WCE, Lions 3, Crows 2, Syd, Geel, Port, Filth 1, Saints, Foots Melb, Freo 0- I say oh when - I hope our players feel the envy I have watching other clubs lift the cup.

Same with me.

Went to that 71 GF with us and the Hawks on 1 flag a piece.
71 was about which of the two clubs would get the jump over the other.
20 points up at 3/4 time it looked like us.

But the game turned.
And so has history.

Now have sat through their wins in 71, 76, 78, 83, 86, 88, 89, 91 and 08.
That's 9 more Priemierships to them whilst our tally stays on one.

Whilst I was happy to support them yesterday.
I keep thnking how good would it have been to see 9 premierships in your lifetime like Hawk supporters of my age group ?
They just don't realise how lucky they are.

And why them and not us ????

[TriColourDisciple]

You can't put Freo in the same catagory as St.kilda, Melbourne & WB's. They've only been in the comp for 5 minutes. Their time will probably come soon. That's been the most frustrating thing, Witnessing the formation of these interstate clubs, watching them quickly grow stronger & stronger & Presto! before to long they are holding a premiership cup aloft. All the while we are still waiting... After a lifetime of support, still nothing.

[Bevan Shorluey]

No.

[sainter#4]

we need to add to our list especially with midfielders imo
- not necessarily gun ones but those can can bob up an kick goals an have 18-22 quality touches a game that are damaging. if you look at the hawks they had burchill, young, ladson, ellis who arnt elite players but do a good job for them on a weekly bases which we are lacking
- hard at it players, ever since hammer, powell, guerra etc left we have no one who likes abit of the hard stuff,who like to ruffles up the oppositions feathers.if you look at yesterdays grand final both teams had these sort of players in abundance an they allow your johnsons an williams to put there head over the pill with confidence knowing that one of these types of players will be protecting them and show there skills

if rossy an the boys wanna become a power house side boys, these are a must they allow dal an montagna to get the ball an hit there targets an become more damaging if we have some hard at it players protecting them aswell as some good fast players who when they get the ball are very damaging aswell as continuing on bringing youngsters through the ranks and replacing those who arnt preforming!!

[Moccha]

I honestly think we are another ten years away. With the Gold Coast and West Sydney teams coming in we are in the worst shape of all teams in the comp IMHO. No rising stars, no draft picks, and nowhere to go but down. We aren't in the Geelong class, or even Hawthorn for that matter. I see nothing but gloom in the coming years. Life as a Saints supporter I s'pose....

That's absolute garbage!

So you think we're worse off than Melbourne?

[Saints Premiers 2008]

it took geelong 8 years of rebuilding and tune ups...

not saying we are like geelong at all however its an example that it does take time to gel

[saint75]

Of course our time will come and it will be sooner rather than later!

Reading through this forum, you could be mistaken for thinking that we finished 16th rather than 4th!!!!

[Sainternist]

Have been having similar discussions with friends who are also Saints fans over the past week or so.
I'm also the same age as RH3V.
The first time the Saints made the finals in my lifetime, I was 15 years old. The build up in '91 to the finals was such a buzz!

But considering the teams we've had on paper since then, the fact they haven't delivered at least one premiership is bitterly disappointing.

The moral of the story for all St.Kilda supporters is to never place such high hopes on winning a flag. If you do, you are bound to end up feeling like bantha fodder.

There were quite a few old time Saints, in the twilight of their lives when the club finally got the break through in '66.
Maybe we're just gonna have to wait a little longer like they had to?
Who knows?

When watching in the Red Sox in '04 win for the first time in 86 years, it gave me hope for the St.Kilda FC that maybe our time will come soon too

[saintbart]

...Witnessing the formation of these interstate clubs, watching them quickly grow stronger & stronger & Presto! before to long they are holding a premiership cup aloft...

For me, that's what hurt the most in 97. That they had been in five minutes and had won it.

I can only imagine what it would feel like as a player to win it, let alone us supporters. One day...

[fingers]

Our time will absolutely come. We are on a better road than you think. Stay positive.

[Thinline]

As my old man used to say to me when I used to sook up for whatever reason...Harden the f--k up...He's a gentle man, and it was the only time he ever really swore, but it's a fact...You think things are getting a bit tough, LIFT, DO BETTER, DIG IN, DON'T WHINE, LET ACTIONS SPEAK. Just harden the f--ck up !

Supporters, players, coaches, whoever...Harden the f--k up, and we'll amaze ourselves.

We'll get there. I know it. I believe, and I'll never stop believing. And what a day it'll be.

[To the top]

The comparisons since 1971 have to be put into perspective.

Remember that St Kilda should not have survived financially, and it was only by Fox "monstering" ANZ Bank that they did survive, paying how much in the $1-?

St Kilda, and a raft of other clubs, could not compete pre the Salary Cap and pre the Draft.

The Saints had to sell their "Form 4's" to the likes of Carlton for money to pay some of the bills, and got a couple of Carlton rejects along the line.