18 ways St Kilda has sinned since last finals appearance in 2011
ST KILDA hasn’t made the finals since 2011 and a big reason for that has been its sub-par drafting and recruiting. What would they look like if they took Petracca instead of McCartin and Bontempelli over Billings?
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MANY key decisions made by St Kilda leaders, most since their last finals appearance in 2011, are open to criticism.
We analyse some of the club’s biggest blunders.
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1. St Kilda loses respected coach Ross Lyon to Fremantle at the end of 2011 after stalling on a new deal mid-year.
2. The Saints make the worst decision in football and move its club headquarters from Moorabbin to Seaford. Former captain Nick Riewoldt said the move “crushed the group”.
3. Senior coach Scott Watters falls out with senior players and club officials and is sacked at the end of his second season (2013). The club considered the move in August but waited until October.
4. Former cricket ace Jamie Cox lasts two seasons as football manager, replaced by Simon Lethlean this season. St Kilda has had three footy managers in four years.
5. The Saints make the surprise call to select key forward Paddy McCartin over the more highly-touted Christian Petracca with pick No.1 in the 2014 national draft.
6. The club builds a midfield lacking outside run and polish.
7. St Kilda’s player incentive payments tips it over the salary cap edge in 2012. Footy boss Chris Pelchen made some urgent changes to avoid AFL sanctions. Their top 10 players take up 62 per cent of the salary cap that year.
8. The Saints take Jack Billings with pick No.3, ahead of Marcus Bontempelli, in the 2013 national draft.
9. The club hands over pick No.12 in 2012 for Tom Lee and No. 24 (Nathan Wright) and No.43 (Josh Saunders).
10. The Saints send pick No.13 and No.36 to Gold Coast for ruckman Tom Hickey and pick No.25 (Spencer White).
11. The club trades picks No.25 and No.41 to Brisbane for ruckman Billy Longer in 2013.
12. Forward Tom Lynch is moved on to Adelaide for pick No.37 in 2011.
12. The Saints hand over pick No.16 in the 2009 national draft for Essendon midfielder Andrew Lovett. He failed to play a AFL game for the Saints.
13. The Saints make calls not to renew the contracts of highly-respected club greats Leigh Montagna and Nick Riewoldt at the end of last season. Richardson subsequently says he underestimated the leadership vacuum it would create.
14. Plans to play home and away games in New Zealand are ditched amid dwindling crowds and lack of support. Three games in Wellington averaged crowds of 16,000.
15. Saints win the golden opportunity to play North Melbourne on Good Friday this year, but do prospects of keeping the date no good as they lose by 52 points.
16. In October last year the club extends the coaching contract of Alan Richardson, until 2020, despite another year of no finals.
17. Business decisions stretching back decades culminate in debt hitting $12 million. Poor performances contribute to the club drawing the second-lowest average crowd among Victorian clubs this season.
- with Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane
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