Eight reasons to be excited about St Kilda in 2020
He was touted as ‘one of the most special tall forwards in years’ before being drafted at pick four. After an injury interrupted first season, Max King is set to be unleashed in 2020. He’s just one reason for Saints fans to get excited.
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Considering St Kilda currently hold the second longest premiership drought, their fans have every right to be restless.
But there is plenty to like about the Saints after a very proactive trade and free agency period.
The possible additions of a top-five selection and the 2018 Trevor Barker medal runner-up makes the Saints look even more formidable.
Can they break their 54 year premiership drought?
Here’s eight reasons why Saints supporters can get excited for season 2020.
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1. FRESH APPROACH
Brett Ratten made an immediate impact when he took the reins as coach of St Kilda for the final six games last season. After winning just two of their previous 11 matches, the Saints scored three wins under Ratten’s leadership to finish the year on a more positive note. Ratten brought a new energy into the group and the players love him. Ratten has said over the off-season it’s now “time to raise expectations” for the Saints and there are “great opportunities in growth” for the side with a new style of play and team education. The former Carlton coach will not settle for finishing 14th on the ladder again.
2. THE NEW KING
An anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2018 meant highly-touted draftee Max King missed the start of last season. The No. 4 draft pick was eased back through the seconds and played five VFL games mid-season before an ankle injury wiped out the rest of his campaign after Round 13. But Saints fans are champing at the bit to finally see King at AFL level in 2020. In his last game of underage football in the NAB League in 2018, King logged 19 disposals and kicked 8.5. He was described leading into the 2018 national draft as “one of the most special tall forwards in years”. Now fit again, there are high hopes King can have a major impact in the Saints forward line next season, with a Round 1 debut the goal.
3. ROBERTON RETURN
Defender Dylan Roberton finished second to Seb Ross in St Kilda’s best and fairest in 2017 after a brilliant campaign in which he played every game and averaged 23.1 disposals, 5.6 rebound 50s and 6.7 intercept possessions. Since then, Roberton has played just four AFL games, having not lined up for the Saints since collapsing on the field in Round 4, 2018. Roberton has undergone extensive testing over a heart condition and has had a defibrillator installed in his chest to help safeguard him from experiencing an unusually high heart rate again. Roberton is now training strongly once again and is determined to return in Round 1, believing he is now on top of managing the condition.
4. DAN THE MAN
Recruit Dan Hannebery was all the buzz around Moorabbin this time last year. The former Sydney star and 2012 premiership player was going to add a new dimension and leadership to the Saints midfield. However, his first season at his new club could not have gone much worse. A series of hamstring setbacks after a very limited pre-season meant Hannebery was not fit to play a game until Round 11. He played two VFL matches then before playing two AFL games and then missing five weeks with a calf. However, the 28-year-old finished the year on a positive note, logging 28 disposals and seven clearances against Sydney in Round 23. St Kilda will be hoping Hannebery can keep himself fit and deliver more similar performances in 2020, which will go a long way to improving their midfield strength.
5. THE BIG RECRUIT
The Saints viewed Fremantle’s Brad Hill as “one of the game’s best outside midfielders” and couldn’t have been more thrilled to secure his services during the trade period. A three-time premiership player with Hawthorn and 2017 Fremantle best and fairest, Hill has pace to burn and sublime skills. He averaged 25.1 disposals, 4.3 inside 50s and six score involvements across 22 games for the Dockers last season and at 26 years old the Saints believe he still has plenty of good football ahead of him. His first game in St Kilda colours will also be a milestone – Hill’s 150th AFL game overall.
6. THE OTHER RECRUITS
The Saints were busy bees during the trade and free agency period, not only securing Hill but also five other experienced players. Former Port Adelaide defender Dougal Howard arrived with big wraps and is still just 23 years old with 45 games of AFL experience behind him. Former Sydney midfielder Zak Jones and will slot straight into the Saints on the opposite wing to Hill or off halfback to provide some run. A 2017 All-Australian, Paddy Ryder joined from Port Adelaide and will provide back-up to Rowan Mashall in the ruck along with having the ability to go forward. Former Geelong ruckman Ryan Abbott and 2017 Richmond premiership forward Dan Butler were also snapped up and will add good depth for the Saints.
7. MOUNTAIN MARSHALL
Ruckman Rowan Marshall was a revelation in the ruck for St Kilda last season. Having played just 13 AFL games entering 2019, the 201cm and 104kg man mountain played 20 games and finished second behind Seb Ross in the club’s best-and-fairest. Marshall was the No. 1 ranked player for the Saints last season, averaging 110 SuperCoach points. He enters 2020 as one of just two St Kilda players rated ‘elite’ by Champion Data, the other being fellow ruckman Paddy Ryder. Former St Kilda and Essendon champion Brendon Goddard believes Marshall could be what Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy is now “in two years’ time”, a very exciting prospect indeed.
8. HUNTER CLARK
Internally the Saints believe young star Hunter Clark is primed to explode with his game in 2020. Selected at pick seven in the 2017 national draft, Clark has played 29 AFL games across his first two seasons and showed significant improvement in the back half of last season. An elite decision maker and ball user, the 20-year-old has been primarily deployed off halfback but is eyeing more midfield minutes in 2020. After interrupted pre-season’s his first two years, Clark has not missed a beat thus far this summer has been one of the most impressive players on the track.
CHAMPION DATA SAYS
The Saints added a lot of talent in across the off-season, with an average age of 24.4 heading into 2020 – the seventh oldest in the competition. They have the second-best ruck combination to start the season with Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall both rating elite.
HOW YOUR CLUB IS TRACKING
2015: 14th, 6W, 1D, 15L
2016: 9th, 12W, 10L
2017: 11th, 11W, 11L
2018: 16th, 4W, 1D, 17L
2019: 14th, 9W, 13L
TAB ODDS
Premiership: $29
Top 8: $2.75
Top 4: $8