The season reports started with Melbourne Demons who finished 16th, then Richmond Tigers, Fremantle Dockers, North Melbourne, Sydney Swans, the West Coast Eagles, Port Adelaide and the Hawthorn Hawks. Essendon Bombers finished 8th then we had Carlton, Brisbane, Adelaide, Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and now St Kilda who finished 2nd.
Michael Gardiner & Steven King both injury free played vital roles in the ruck for the Saints this year
The Year It Was
- Finished: 2nd with 20 wins
- Kick2Kick Season Prediction: 9 – 12th
What Went Right
A lot went right for St Kilda bar the last Saturday in September. They won an amazing 19 games straight and only lost three in a season of 25 games. Their defense was amazing and was easily the best most stingiest of the whole competition with 300 points the difference between them and the next best in Collingwood.
Recycled players in Dawson (recruit of the year?), Ray, Schneider, King, Gardiner and Gram all shone and exceeded expectations.
What Went Wrong
The Grand Final loss! At the end of the day it does not matter how many records are beaten or how many games they won, they lost the most important game and the year became disappointing.
Key players continuously where missing when needed most. Milne, Kosi and a host of others had a quite final series and careers are made or destroyed during finals.
Player(s) that Stepped Up
Riewoldt and Hayes had good years along with Goddard, Dal Santo (most consistent year in career), Gilbert and Montanga who all stepped up to become A-listers.
Trade Bait/ Goodbye’s
So far Jarryd Allen and Max Hudghton have retired with Hudghton no surprise after being talked out of retirement last year but Allen is a sad story with a hip complaint forcing him to retire after 4 games.
Luke Ball had a disappointing year and St Kilda must make a decision to either play him or move him on. He is a waste being left out of the side as he surely is worth at least a first round pick. Matt Macguire is another who failed to make an impression this year.
Apart from some teams looking at Ball and maybe Armitage, Macguire and the Clarke brothers expect the Saints to be quite during the trade period as the team is fairly settled.
Improvement Needed by
Justin Koschitzke was a number two pick, a former Rising Star winner and has nearly played 150 games yet he still imo is a waste of space. While he kicked 45 goals and played 20 games this year he still has failed to regularly impact games and release stress of captain Riewoldt up forward.
If Ball, the Clarke Brothers and Macguire stay with the Saints next year they must also improve as there careers so far have been below the standard they should be at.
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September 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
we all know what my thoughts on the saints were coming into the season so to say that they superseeded them is a gross understatement. they played with such an intensity and a defnsive mindset the likes of which we have not seen in the modern era. This style was unbeatable early as teams were unable to match their physicality. What is concerning for them is that in the last part of the season(the most important part) they looked tired and teams as low as North and the Dons were able to beat them whilst they looked vulnerable aginst both the swans and even the DEMONS!!!. In the finals they looked great against collingwood but the better sides in geelong and the dogs had their measure and in the end they were lucky to make the GF. i will be really interested to see how they fare next season, losing only 3 games out of 25 and not walking away with the cup has to be devestating for them and i think will be very hard mentally for them to push through. Kosi, Milne, R.Clarke and Dempster really need to be looked at as it was their bottom 6 players that let them down late in the year
September 28th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
the saints are in danger in my opinion. i do not think they are that good. i think they simply slipped under everyones radar coming into the year, i don’t think anyone really thought they would do anything much this year but they did. however they have to back it up next year because if they don’t they will be one hit/miss wonders. and i think if they dont address key issues to do with their midfield and their avenue to goal, i can’t see them winning the flag next year either. they didnt really deserve to even make the GF, and even when they did they didnt deserve to win. they don’t have a balanced side. geelong does, and with the inclusion of a kpp so will the dogs, st kilda dont, and like i said above, until they fix it i cant see them winning a GF any time soon
personally i think the cats will probably be succsessful again next year, and i reckon the dogs will be Grand Finalists next year. I’m going to go out on a limb and say cats and dogs grand final 2010. lol
September 29th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Yes I tend to agree, I do not see any improvement coming from this list, should Lyon start again? No but I think he needs to get some youth in the list that are capable of making a difference, a spark anything…
However in saying that, the Saints have two talls and two smalls but nothing in between & maybe a Ben McKinley (WCE) and or Nathan Brown (Rich) could be handy pick ups as they give something different up forward and can provide another goal option. McKinley would cost the Saints a bit but N Brown will be cheap (pre season draft or above 50 pick), what you guys think of him in a Saints jumper?
September 29th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
honestly, don’t like it, i think they lack a third marking option who is also capable at ground level and whilst brown is tremendous at ground level his marking leaves a bit to be desired, plus he is as soft as melted butter. i think brown would be better suited in brown and gold whilst maybe robbo or as you mentioned jerm, mckinley or even an aaron edwards could be handy for the saints, looks as though goose maguire is set to be at the bombers next year and there are whispers that luke ball may have to find a new home too… interesting week ahead
September 29th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I forgot about Robbo, think McKinley would be best and maybe they could off load the pick they get for Macguire.
I will do up a post with all names looking to be traded this friday, so look forward to that, as like you say, it will be an interesting week ahead.
Jermayn´s last blog ..St Kilda Saints 2009 Season Report
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
They are going to have to come up with a better strategy than bomb it long to Riewaldt and Kosi. Thats what they did for the whole second half of the GF.
Really 9 goals in the PF and the GF is not going to win you a premiership. Next year the other teams are going to be on to it.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I agree that 9 is not enough and I think they really do need to pick up a 5th goal scorer. I do like Kosi up forward though, King, McEvoy and Gardiner in the ruck is enough…
So Bob, who would you target for the forward issue?
Jermayn´s last blog ..2009 Trade Talk – The Rumours