St Kilda Saints 2016 season report card

THE Saints missed the finals on percentage but suffered some horror defeats on the road. How do you rate their season and what do they need to take the next step?

Jack Steven runs away from Richmond’s Dustin Martin. Picture: Colleen Petch

A HUGE second half to the year should give the Saints loads of confidence heading into the pre-season.

Most pegged them at 8-10 wins (after only six in 2015) but season-defining performances against Geelong, Western Bulldogs and twice over Melbourne piloted the Saints towards the unlikeliest of finals campaigns.

The Saints won six of their last eight games, including a run of three for the first time since 2011. Jack Steven and Seb Ross led the midfield while Tim Membrey (44 goals) proved a revelation in attack.

Tom Hickey emerged as a genuine No. 1 ruckman, averaging 28 hitouts from 20 games. Jade Gresham was the pick of the kids, while Blake Acres earned himself a Rising Star nomination in his third season at the club.

Ticked boxes off the field too, the Saints recording the biggest jump (16.07 per cent) in official membership, from 32,746 to 38,009.

2016 SNAPSHOT

WINS: 12

LOSSES: 10

DRAWS: 0

LADDER POSITION: 9th

PERCENTAGE: 95.7%

LAST YEAR: 9th (up five spots)

DID WE GET IT RIGHT? SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE AND HAVE YOUR SAY?

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Doubling your wins is a cause for serious celebration. Despite the hype around Melbourne and talk of Port Adelaide or Collingwood as finals contenders, the Saints were clearly the best team outside the finals, two games clear in ninth. The Saints came of age with a three-point win against Geelong and there were improvers all over the field starting with Tom Hickey in the ruck and bargain-priced ex-Swan Tim Membrey up forward. Evergreen skipper Nick Riewoldt was moved up the field and still dominated while the new-look forward line of Membrey, Josh Bruce and Paddy McCartin will worry plenty of teams.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Saints fans won’t forget a couple of umpiring decisions that went against them at crucial moments of tight finishes — the infamous “not 15m” calls against Hawthorn and a ruck infringement against Tom Hickey in Round 7 that allowed Kangaroo Mason Wood to milk the countdown clock. Considering they missed the finals by percentage (behind North), the ramifications were huge. But a bigger issue is form on the road, where St Kilda lost by 103 points to West Coast and 88 points to Adelaide. Twelve wins is a fantastic result but the percentage column gives a good indication of where a club is at and that needs to head north next season. Another negative was serious injuries to young tyros Paddy McCartin (repeated concussions), Hugh Goddard (Achilles) and underrated midfielder Luke Dunstan (shoulder).

Tim Membrey led the Saints’ goalkicking with 44.

RECRUITING DEPT REVIEW

Draft picks: Jade Gresham (18), Brandon White (40), Bailey Rice (40), Nick O’Kearney (rookie), Nick Coughlin (rookie), Josh Saunders (rookie),

Trade/free agent acquisitions: Nathan Freeman (Collingwood), Jake Carlisle (Essendon)

Freeman and Carlisle played a combined zero games, which isn’t ideal, but if they play together in a premiership in the next five years, who cares? Freeman at least played the last few games for the Sandringham development side to give some hope his hamstrings can hold together next year. The Saints found a beauty in Gresham, a smart and nimble midfielder who got better with every game. Brandon White made his debut in Round 23 (kicking a goal) but hyped father-son pick Bailey Rice wasn’t sighted all year.

HIGH AND LOW

Jade Gresham’s snap and Jack Stevens’ rushed goal to pinch victory against Geelong are hard to top. But Nick Riewoldt’s incredible 21-mark, nine-goal performance against Brisbane was one of the most enjoyable days at the footy this year. In terms of special moments, a special shout-out to Jarryn Geary’s match-saving spoil against the Bombers. The lowlights came in those gut-wrenching losses to Hawthorn and North Melbourne and smashings in Perth and Adelaide. A second-half obliteration by a Buddy-inspired Sydney killed the finals dream.

Jade Gresham turns Tom Lonergan inside-out. Picture: Mark Stewart

THE COACH

Alan Richardson implemented a more attacking style and it paid dividends. The Saints won nine of the 10 games where they kicked 100 points or more — the only hiccup in Round 1 against Port Adelaide. Alan Richardson’s side was found wanting on the road at times, but that boils down to inexperience. Contracted until 2018 but wouldn’t be surprised if an extension was slid across his desk next year.

YOU SAID IT

“Our good is pretty good and holds up against good teams, but obviously against West Coast and Adelaide our poor is really poor.”

— midfielder Jack Steven

Jack Steven is one of the most dynamic midfielders in the competition. Picture: Michael Klein

BEST-AND-FAIREST

Jack Steven with his nose in front to make it back-to-back Trevor Barker Awards, but don’t be surprised to see Seb Ross and Tom Hickey towards the top of the tree. Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna always poll well, along with defensive rock Geary, while Tim Membrey’s result will be another to watch.

B & F Count: Crown Palladium, Thursday

SUPERCOACH STUD

Jack Steven finished with the highest average (103) and provided some massive scores (148, 164, 170, 150) but threw in some low numbers as well, especially over the past month. Leigh Montagna was a smart pick-up as a forward and we should have traded in Nick Riewoldt when he was $459k after Round 4 — he scored 10 hundreds after that including a massive 187 on SuperCoach grand final weekend. Jade Gresham proved one of the best midfield rookies this year despite a slow start.

SUPERCOACH DUD

After a breakout 2015 season David Armitage’s average dropped from 110 to 87, the sixth-biggest fall in the competition, as he was given more defensive midfield roles. Jack Billings again largely failed to deliver on his huge potential, averaging 75 with just three scores over 100. He’ll be right in the breakout window next year, will anyone be brave enough to take the punt?

THE LIST

ELITE: Nick Riewoldt, Jack Steven

BIG IMPROVERS: Tim Membrey, Seb Ross, Tom Hickey, Mav Weller

GONE: None yet

GOING, GOING? Sam Fisher, Tom Curren, Luke Delaney, Brodie Murdoch, Tom Lee, Cam Shenton, Jason Holmes

TRADE BAIT: No one obvious.

WHAT THEY NEED

Another gun midfielder would compliment the list beautifully, so no surprise they’re into Jaeger O’Meara. The key forward posts are filled for the next decade and Hugh Goddard and Jake Carlisle are the long-term full-back and centre-half back; a decision is yet to be made on veteran Sam Fisher. A quick, classy ball-user coming out of defence would be handy and potentially a small forward, with Darren Minchington and Jack Lonie both in and out of the side this year. Roos champ Brent Harvey could be an ideal mentor although his age is a turn-off.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK: 6pm

The Saints are living in daylight savings time, winding forward the premiership clock to jump into contention ahead of most expectations. The building blocks are in place, now comes the hard part — translating promise into success, starting with a finals appearance in 2017.

THE STATS

REPORT CARD: ST KILDA 2016
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Originally published as St Kilda Saints 2016 season report card