St Kilda 2025 season preview: Can Ross Lyon, young guns inspire Saints to take next step?

St Kilda has the salary cap room to continue its search for a big fish in 2025. But, can the Saints deliver the on-field results to make them an attractive destination? SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON examines their prospects.

Does Ross Lyon have St Kilda’s rebuld on track?

Are the Saints coming or going?

It’s a hard question to answer as Ross Lyon largely banks on youth to rebuild St Kilda into a finals contender.

SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON examines the club’s 2025 prospects.

SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024

Darcy Wilson arrived at St Kilda with plenty of fans, but their expectations of the 18th pick from the 2023 draft were surpassed in a fantastic debut season. The hard running Wilson played all 23 games in his first season at the Saints and in what was a largely forgettable year for St Kilda, he well and truly emerged as a bright spark now and in the future.

Darcy Wilson gets the bounce for the first goal of the afternoon! #AFLSaintsSwanspic.twitter.com/VLmKtT1QeW

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 7, 2024

INS AND OUTS

IN: Eamonn Armstrong (Category B rookie), James Barrat (No.32 draft pick), Hugh Boxshall (No.45 draft pick), Jack Carroll (delisted free agent), Alex Dodson (No.53 draft pick), Jack Macrae (trade, Western Bulldogs), Patrick Said (No.60 draft pick), Alix Tauru (No.10 draft pick), Tobie Travaglia (No.8 draft pick), Harry Boyd (SSP)

OUT: Matthew Allison (delisted), Josh Battle (free agent, Hawthorn), Riley Bonner (delisted), Tom Campbell (free agent, Melbourne), Brad Crouch (retired), Jack Hayes (delisted), Olli Hotton (delisted), Tim Membrey (delisted), Ben Paton (delisted), Seb Ross (delisted), James Van Es (delisted)

Mattaes Phillipou so far:

11 disposals
4 tackles
3 marks
This goal#AFLBluesSaintspic.twitter.com/ZY1FlIet7m

— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 25, 2024

How is the Saints midfield going to look in 2025? You’d imagine Macrae slots right in there after his move from the Bulldogs but there might be some other players Ross the boss flicks in there. Phillipou is tearing up the track in pre-season so maybe he is one for more time in the engine room while could draftee Tobie Travaglia also get some time there in his debut season? Down back it looks like Arie Schoenmaker is set to get the first crack to replace Josh Battle as the third tall defender.

WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?

There’s few players on the Saints list with as much promise as Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and with Port Adelaide very keen on the smooth South Australian, a good 2025 campaign could see him in line for a very big payday. After moving from the wing to halfback, Wanganeen-Milera has shone with his ability to hit targets from defence, and set-up attacks from back there. The Power still could have a Dan Houston-shaped hole in its defence and the better Wanganeen-Milera plays in 2025, the bigger his contract could be whether that is at the Saints or at another club.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has emerged as one of the AFL’s premier halfbacks.

LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT

Angus Hastie, Angus McLennan, Arie Schoenmaker, Dougal Howard, Hugo Garcia, Hunter Clark, Isaac Keeler, Jimmy Webster, Liam O’Connell, Liam Stocker, Marcus Windhager, Mitchito Owens, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Ryan Byrnes, Zaine Cordy, Zak Jones

POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?

We know about the Saints’ desire to improve their midfield but a pressing matter for St Kilda in 2025 will be filling the Battle-shaped hole in the backline after his move to Hawthorn. Based on pre-season so far it seems as if second-year Schoenmaker will get the first crack at the third defender role but there could be some left-field options available for the Saints. Caminiti could swing from forward to the backline, while Cooper Sharman and the untried Isaac Keeler were used in defence last season. Top 10 draft pick Alix Tauru should eventually fill this position but he is expected top be eased into it as he recovers from a back injury.

BURNING QUESTION

Can the Saints land a big fish to boost their midfield? St Kilda has a big war chest to use in free agency and the Saints want every rival player and their agents to know this. Despite two high draft picks the Saints midfield is arguably still lacking so you’d expect premier on-ballers such as Luke Davies-Uniacke to be right at the top of St Kilda target list. Yes, we will find out whether the Saints’ strategy will pay off at the end of the 2025 campaign, but as we know the work in executing this plan takes place all year.

Originally published as St Kilda 2025 season preview: Can Ross Lyon, young guns inspire Saints to take next step?