Starving Saints look for a recipe

At halftime in a clash between St Kilda and Richmond last July, one success starved club looked a clear premiership contender.

Tim Membrey kicks at goal at training Picture: Michael Klein

At halftime in a clash between St Kilda and Richmond at Etihad Stadium last July, one success-starved club looked a clear premiership contender.

The Saints had booted 14.8 (92) to the Tigers’ 1.4 (10). Ultimately, they won by 67 points to post their fourth straight win.

They sat level with Richmond on nine wins, with only one percentage point separating the sixth and seventh-placed teams.

Seb Ross ran rampant gathering 33 touches. Tim Membrey kicked five straight goals. Champion veterans Nick Riewoldt contributed three goals and Leigh Montagna two from 31 disposals.

And the TAB had St Kilda listed at $26 to win the premiership, exactly the same price as the Tigers.

The Tigers, of course, rebounded to win their first premiership since 1980 when propelled into September with a convincing victory over the Saints in round 23.

But the implosion at St Kilda is the talk of Melbourne. The Saints seem as far away as ever from adding a second flag to their success in 1966. Today’s clash against Richmond at the MCG provides a relevant reference point to cover the fall.

Only last Saturday, St Kilda president Peter Summers cited the victory over Richmond as an illustration of what he believes the Saints should be delivering.

The interview from Summers before a loss to Collingwood is seen to have raised the pressure on coach Alan Richardson.

The fifth-season coach was subsequently grilled on his regular appearance on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday.

Riewoldt, who retired at the end of last season, expressed his fears on the same program.

“I guess having been at clubs that have struggled in the past, you’ve got to win games of footy, otherwise the coach is under pressure and the scrutiny comes,” he said.

St Kilda football manager Simon Lethlean directed the blame squarely at the club’s middle-tiered players.

Queries have been raised over the club’s list management given this group’s struggle to kick on. The Saints have been appalling in front of goal, with Membrey symptomatic of a club gone awry.

Membrey, who will be hoping for a surprise against Richmond to celebrate his 24th birthday today, has kicked 6.15 this year. In his four previous seasons, he has booted 91.39.

Former Saint Nick Dal Santo argued the club had made a mistake in allowing Riewoldt and Montagna to retire.

Richardson yesterday said the scrutiny was understandable but felt the club’s response off the field was telling.

“I think our footy club this week, there has been a bit of external noise (but) that is to be expected when you are not winning games of footy,” he said.

“But I think our club has been really unified. We are a stable footy club. We are disappointed with where we are at but we are working hard to try and turn it around.”

Rectifying the win-loss record remains the goal on the field. But tackling Richmond on the rebound at the MCG is arguably the hardest task in football.