St Kilda end of season review: How I’d fix the Saints

ST KILDA started the 2017 season brightly, but faded into obscurity and missed the finals again. They’re now dreaming of a superstar Giant, LAUREN WOOD writes.

ST KILDA started the 2017 season brightly, but faded into obscurity and missed the finals again.

They’ve farewelled a couple of legends, but have their eye on a superstar Giant.

LAUREN WOOD runs the rule over what went right and wrong for the Saints and what needs to happen for them to take the next step in 2018

Club champions Leigh Montagna and Nick Riewoldt have played their final matches. Picture: Getty Images

THE SEASON ROUND UP

Finals had been the aim and the Saints only narrowly missed out, ending the season with an 11-11 record, in 11th spot and just one game outside the top eight. But it wasn’t without positives, with rousing wins over Greater Western Sydney and Richmond two of their strongest showings of the year. There had been talk of September, having kicked things off with a 5-3 first eight rounds but things faltered from there with a few costly losses. Veterans Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna were farewelled without a sought-after premiership, the latter following a lengthy hamstring injury.

Paddy McCartin only managed five AFL matches in 2017 as he battled concussion issues. Picture: AAP

THE PROBLEM(S)

The Saints — while stacked with plenty of hard workers in the middle — lacked vital polish and outside run through the midfield. That comes with experience, and Jack Steven led the way as best he could and was assisted in there by the likes of Seb Ross and Luke Dunstan, but the final flourish was often missing. The team was also plagued by inconsistency in front of goal, booting more behinds than goals in a competition-high 12 games this season and failing to get bang for buck. Paddy McCartin’s concussion issues continued to plague him, with the young forward suffering his sixth concussion since 2014 and ruled out indefinitely, having played just five games this season.

New additions to the St Kilda's leadership group L-R. Josh Bruce, Seb Ross and Dylan Roberton. Pic: Michael Klein

THE SOLUTION

Things are already underway as the Saints look to rectify their goalkicking woes — the reality is, they simply must. Veteran defender Sam Gilbert revealed last month that former Swan and Hawk Ben McGlynn has been driving the program, that has seen a more specific emphasis placed on the craft. Having an extra year of experience paid dividends for the likes of Seb Ross and Dylan Roberton, who the Saints will be hoping take another step next year, and Jake Carlisle was finding his groove by season’s end. Time is key.

THE TARGET

There’s one Giant who would go a long way to boosting the Saints. Josh Kelly’s class would be welcomed at Seaford, with the Saints regularly linked to the soon-to-be out-of-contract star midfielder who is maintaining that no decision will be made until the end of the season. He grew up in Melbourne’s bayside area of Sandringham, which St Kilda will be hoping helps their case, while hold picks seven and eight at the draft table which could help in getting the deal done.

Josh Kelly would provide some extra polish to the Saints. Picture: Getty Images

THE DREAM/BLUE SKY IDEA

Wouldn’t it be huge for the Saints to land Josh Kelly? On so many levels. Hooking a big fish can pay off for years to come, and his polish and class would rub off on so many others. Paddy McCartin plays every game and fills the gap left by Riewoldt up forward by booting 50 goals, with Riewoldt staying on as an assistant coach and playing a vital part in a finals campaign. Now wouldn’t that be a fairytale.

The Saints Alan Richardson Picture: AAP

THE COACH

Alan Richardson is contracted for next season with Saints chief executive Matt Finnis already expressing a desire to get a contract extension in front of him to ensure that 2018 is not a year with any uncertainty. “It is certainly on our mind and we are very confident Richo is our man for the long term,’’ Finnis said last month. “We know it’s just a matter of what is the right time to have that conversation and what that starts to look like going forward. They are all conversations to have internally and at the right time we will do those.”

BUCKY SAYS

While the Saints have been linked to GWS star Josh Kelly ... (they) should also be talking to Kelly’s teammates Lachie Whitfield and Devon Smith.

Giant Lachie Whitfield should also be a target of the Saints. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE STATS

The Saints were third in the competition for tackle differential and won the clearances by an average of 2.5 a game, ranked third. But they were 12th for points scored and 11th for points against. What is it that sets them apart?

2018 PREDICTION

Between 5th and 8th.