Saints alone on top of the AFL ladder for first time in 12-years

St Kilda have continued its remarkable start to the 2023 AFL season with dreams of ending the game’s longest active premiership drought.

Anthony Caminiti celebrates one of his two goals. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Saints are soaring and coach Ross Lyon is looking forward to the challenge of tackling Collingwood in a blockbuster finish next Sunday to the inaugural Gather Round in Adelaide.

The Saints maintained their unbeaten record with a dominant 17.11 (113) to 8.12 (60) victory over the Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night in their best start to a season since 2010.

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The last time the Saints stood alone atop the ladder was at the end of the home-and-away season in 2009, the year they lost to Geelong by 12 points in the grand final.

But the side has been in the doldrums since 2011, making the finals just once in that time.

Lyon said he was not in the habit of making predictions. But he is delighted with how the Saints have started in his second tenure in charge at Moorabbin.

“I knew we would compete and I knew we would run and work and I thought we were putting together a really good system. But I think everyone thinks that, don’t they,” he said.

“We are going to get challenged. We are not going to go through undefeated. We understand that. But based on how we measure ourselves, we are pleased.”

The Saints are loving life right now. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Collingwood have won four of their past five clashes against St Kilda and will be seeking to rebound from a 33-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Thursday night.

In the moments after their triumph over the Gold Coast, Lyon said he had pointed towards the task confronting them at Adelaide Oval next Sunday afternoon.

“We have already spoken about a big test. Collingwood on the rebound. But we are looking forward to that challenge,” he said.

“It is the last game of Gather Round. I’m sure plenty of (fans) will migrate over. I would love to see plenty of Saints fans there. I am sure the other mob will be there. It is exciting for us.”

Back to the drawing board for the Suns. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew was frustrated by his side’s lack of composure after quarter-time, but he attributed that partially to the ferocity of the pressure applied by St Kilda.

“St Kilda are very impressive. Very impressive. They have a really good system and their work rate is outstanding,” he said.

Such was St Kilda’s dominance against the Suns, Lyon took the opportunity to rest Rowan Marshall from early in the last term, perhaps mindful the Magpies are bereft of ruckmen.

Unfortunately they will add Jack Bytel, who was substituted into the match for Marshall, to their lengthy injury list after he damaged an ankle soon after taking to the field.