Mark Robinson: Why opportunity is knocking for St Kilda and Alan Richardson to emphatically answer critics

The opportunity has arrived for St Kilda and Alan Richardson to answer their critics, including fatalistic notions the coach could be sacked with a loss to Gold Coast, Mark Robinson writes.

Alan Richardson and St Kilda have an early chance to answer their critics. Picture: Julian Smith.

THE death dancing on coach Alan Richardson has started already.

Commentator Brendan Fevola said on Nine on Wednesday night that Richardson could be sacked if the Saints lost to Gold Cast tomorrow and be replaced with Brett Ratten.

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Sacked? After one game of the season?

If that were to happen — and it won’t — then it wouldn’t be only Richardson looking for a new job. If those who recontracted Richardson dropped the hammer on him, they too should walk because, you know, responsibilities and all that.

“If they lose to the Gold Coast, Richo will be gone. (Andrew) Bassat, their president, takes no prisoners,” Fevola said.

“If they lose to them then they are finishing bottom. Get rid of him and get someone else in.”

Matthew Lloyd said it was a “ridiculous” call from Fev.

Alan Richardson and St Kilda have an early chance to answer their critics. Picture: Julian Smith.

I’m with Lloyd. It would be a staggering decision after all the support from the end of last year to now.

But Fev’s fatalistic commentary — his was the most extreme — was the type that has hovered over St Kilda for the past six months.

The debacle of 2017 prompted major change in the football department.

In came assistant coaches Ratten and Brendon Lade and jack of all trades Graeme “Gubby” Allan.

And what followed has been a series of horrific injury news.

Dylan Roberton won’t play this year because of his heart issue, Jake Carlisle is three months out with a back complaint, highly paid recruit Daniel Hannebery needs to be “rebuilt” and Paddy McCartin is indefinite with yet another concussion hit.

Ben Long, Josh Bruce and Jack Lonie celebrate a goal during the JLT Series. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

Defender Nathan Brown is suspended and Jack Steven might not yet play.

It’s doom upon gloom at Moorabbin from the outside looking in.

Inside is a far different environment to what many fans would believe.

There’s confidence and connection, which is the new buzz word in football, and an acceptance of responsibilities.

These are character and statement games, to win against adversity and against fearful commentary.

The Saints say they have added depth to their system and strategy, which will fundamentally live and die around everyone playing their role within it.

Richardson is a storytelling coach. He sells imagery and words to bring his players together.

He’ll have a message, but if he needed a message for tomorrow’s game against Gold Coast he could do worse than have the team listen to Nathan Burke’s speech from St Kilda’s Hall of Fame night on March 8.

St Kilda should embrace the spirit of opportunity legend Nathan Burke thrived on.

Burke — a brave and unrelenting player — was elevated to legend.

He played 323 games, the first five years as a small defender and the next 12 as a best-and-fairest winning midfielder — and spoke about his career and those who shaped it.

He told a story that should reverberate in the lead-up on Sunday about opportunity.

It was 1992 and Burke, a back pocket then, joined coach Ken Sheldon for a game of golf at Brighton.

He was a little nervous about the invitation and confused, because it wasn’t until the 16th hole that Sheldon told him why he was there.

“Kenny said ‘Burkey, it’s about time you stepped out of back pocket, it’s about time you made that leap from good ordinary player to something more’.

“He said, ‘I believe in you and I will give you the opportunity’.”

Football is about performance and getting that opportunity to perform.

Opportunity came for Burke and he became a legend.

Opportunity comes for plenty of Saints players on Sunday and not a lot else should be said.

The new players are Dean Kent, Matthew Parker, Nick Hind and Callum Wilkie.

They’ll be on cloud nine, so they won’t be thinking about Roberton, Carlisle and others when they run out tomorrow. They’ll be thinking run, cover, breathe, talk, breathe, run.

Josh Battle (seven games) and Irishman Darragh Joyce (two games) will take the key defensive roles. Richardson will hammer home their opportunity.

Josh Bruce and Ben Long are back after missing almost the entire 2018 season. This is an opportunity for Bruce to remind people he can play and for Long to show that he can play.

Jack Billings was added to the leadership group this week to replace Roberton.

Jack Billings is one of the Saints ready to step up to the next level. Picture: Michael Klein

He has worked furiously to improve his physicality in brutal tackling sessions with John Donohue and Billy Slater. He simply needs to have strong impact.

Tim Membrey is in the leadership group this year. His time is now. He’s the No. 1 key forward and he must kick goals when his opportunity comes.

Jack Sinclair was the only Saint to be rated elite last year by Champion Data, but elite he wasn’t. The opportunity for him is to become less flighty and more consistent.

Luke Dunstan was dropped three times last year and finished the season out of the team. This is his opportunity to save his career.

Jade Gresham (35 goals in 2018), Jack Steele (maniacal pressure player) and Hunter Clark (15 games in debut year) have the opportunity to elevate their game.

All of the above should heed Sheldon’s words to Burke.

“It’s about time you made that leap from good ordinary player to something more.”

Make no mistake, if the Saints lose tomorrow there will be a river of critique.

It’s lose-lose for them, anyway.

If they are beaten, Richo’s under the pump. If they win, it will likely be said “they only beat the Suns”.

But what if they do win?

Despite a pre-season of broken hearts and heads, there’s no woe is us attitude from Richardson and the club. There are no excuses, no alibis, nothing except for opportunity and playing your role.