AAP's season preview - "St Kilda look to step up"

[SainterK]

St Kilda look to step up

March 13, 2009

On the strength of St Kilda's performances when it mattered most last year, there is much ground to make up before they can match the AFL's heavyweights.

Thrashed by 58 points by Geelong in the first week of the finals, the Saints were a fortnight later left nursing another exit via a preliminary final when shown up by nine goals by eventual premiers Hawthorn.

Aside from Geelong, only St Kilda can boast of making three preliminary finals the past five years.

But Geelong's 2007 flag leaves St Kilda's cupboard - which contains only the 1966 premiership cup - all the more bare.

So the conventional wisdom is that the Saints must produce something remarkable to push past that penultimate weekend, let alone double the club's cup count.

We know Nick Riewoldt is a superstar, a game-turning forward who runs all day and marks like he has sticky hands.

And we know that the courageous Luke Ball and the smooth Lenny Hayes would command a place in every midfield in the competition, and that Sam Fisher is a great defender in an era dominated by rebounding half-backs.

But where does that shot in the arm come from?

Saints coach Ross Lyon does not dare to dream about what it would be like to become just the second man after Allan Jeans to earn a halo for life by leading the Saints to a premiership.

Entering his third season in charge, he is more focused on cracking a decent start to the campaign and securing another berth in the finals.

But Lyon is confident there is a promising forecast for those wondering where the surge in required improvement will come from.

"We've got a young core that we see significant improvement in," he said.

"(Leigh) Montagna, (Brendon) Goddard, (Sam) Gilbert, (Jason) Gram, Raph Clarke, Xavier Clarke, (Adam) Schneider, (David) Armitage...

"We've got a young core - (Nick) Dal Santo, (Justin) Koschitzke - we really see improvement in them and then obviously (Robert) Eddy is one and (James) Gwilt can improve.

"Then if the old hands can maintain their rating ..."

Although St Kilda turned well after a mediocre start last season and secured the double chance courtesy of an in-form defence and an improved attack, the finish left a sour taste.

But Lyon is keen to learn something from the finals drubbings if his side is to close the gap on the Hawks and Cats.

"We've still got a bit of work to do," he said.

"We've been trying to move our ball movement and kick a couple more goals a week and maintain our defensive rating - the second half of the year we were two and seven in defence and attack.

"We'd love to be top four in both.

"We've been working on moving the ball a bit quicker and scoring a little bit more."

St Kilda's roofed primary venue Etihad Stadium, where they play 15 games in 2009, should at least assist in their aim to provide more firepower.

So too should the addition of Gilbert, who could become a handy foil in the forward line for Riewoldt and Koschitzke as marking targets.

Lyon has Gilbert swinging between ends, depending on match-ups and provided the group of key defenders of Max Hudghton, Fisher and Jason Blake stay fit.

The ready-made insurance comes in the form of running defender Colm Begley, recruited from the Lions, ex-Hawthorn fullback Zac Dawson and midfielder Farren Ray, who was traded from the Western Bulldogs.

Two other causes for optimism are the returns of tagger Steven Baker, whose grunt was missed in 2008, when he was sidelined by suspension and knee troubles, and defender Matt Maguire, who has shown encouraging signs he has overcome his foot problems.

But 2009 already has a different feel for St Kilda, as it's the first season since champion midfielder Robert Harvey called it quits after a decorated 21-year career.

Although he was the club's spiritual backbone, Lyon said the onus was on Harvey's successors to forge their success.

"Robert left some magnificent footprints in the sand, so to speak, but eventually they all get blown away, don't they? he said.

"The players here have got to take their opportunities and if we keep looking back we're in trouble."

ST KILDA
Coach: Ross Lyon

Captain: Nick Riewoldt

Last five years: 3-3-8-9-4

Premierships: 1 (1966)

Star five: Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard, Lenny Hayes, Max Hudghton, Nick Riewoldt.

One to watch: Leigh Montagna. At his best, "Joey" is a hard-running, dangerous midfielder. He had the most kicks in the AFL last season, but must step up again, especially post-Robert Harvey.

Ins: Colm Begley (Brisbane), Paul Cahill (Sturt, SA), Robert Eddy (rookie elevation), Nick Heyne (Gippsland U18), Tom Lynch (Sandringham U18), Andrew McQualter (rookie elevation), Farren Ray (Western Bulldogs), Alistair Smith (Perth), Rhys Stanley (West Adelaide).

Outs: Shane Birss (delisted), Matthew Ferguson (delisted), Aaron Fiora (delisted), Charlie Gardiner (delisted), Fraser Gehrig (retired), Robert Harvey (retired), Brad Howard (delisted, redrafted in rookie list), Michael Rix (delisted).

Best line-up:

B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke

HB: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Sam Gilbert

C: Brendon Goddard, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna

HF: Adam Schneider, Nick Riewoldt, Clinton Jones

F: Michael Gardiner, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne

R: Steven King, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo

I: Matt Maguire, David Armitage, Farren Ray, Xavier Clarke

[desertsaint]

Best line-up:

B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke

HB: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Sam Gilbert

C: Brendon Goddard, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna

HF: Adam Schneider, Nick Riewoldt, Clinton Jones

F: Michael Gardiner, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne

R: Steven King, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo

I: Matt Maguire, David Armitage, Farren Ray, Xavier Clarke

ooh - looking at that line up has suddenly made me a little pessimistic - need a lot of players to make a big step up this year!

B: - while Blake gives his all he needs to play well consistently and at a higher level, Raph needs a big step up in effort and disposal;

HB: Gram needs to harden up, Gilbert needs to step up:

C: Looks strong:

HF: One champ, one journeyman, a try hard

F: Love Milne - but all are inconsistent

R: potentially up with the best

I: We need Matt to perform, Armo must improve, Ray - let's hope, Clarke - needs to toughen up and play with consistency. And hoping Baker comes back well!

[evertonfc]

But where does that shot in the arm come from?

You don't see the national wire agency often get too subjective with their calls, but I'm with them here.

Where does that extra bit come from?

I don't know. If we're any hope at all, I'm not entirely convinced we can wholly eclipse Geelong and Hawthorn at their best.

However, if both teams only improved 5 per cent and we improved, say between 10-15 per cent, then we'd have a chance.

Injuries seem to have unhinged Hawthorn in the pre-season, so we may - with an enourmous stroke of good fortune and everything going right - be able to claw back some of the ground.

But Geelong? Unlikely. They seem to have accumulated a whole raft of strong kids banging on the door, something we failed to do when we were 'up' competing for a flag.

So many guys need to pull their finger out. I mean, don't me wrong, we could do it.

But will we? Honestly?

I'm actually optimistic about the season from a development point of view, but less so from a flag-chasing one.