Season Preview: St Kilda

2020 Recap 2020 went about as well as the Saints could have hoped for. Not many had them pegged for finals and even fewer had them pegged for a finals win. [caption id="attachment_79905" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 09: Zak Jones of the Saints looks dejected after the AFL Second Semi Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the St Kilda Saints at Metricon Stadium on October 09, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Brett Ratten built an army of small forwards and led them terrifically, they managed to format a game plan that suits their list really well and made them a very dangerous team in attack. A very, very good year considering the expectations. Off-season moves Ins Brad Crouch (Adelaide), Shaun McKernan (Essendon), Jack Higgins (Richmond), Paul Hunter (SSP), Matthew-McLeod-Allison (Draft), Tom Highmore (Draft), James Frawley (Hawthorn). [caption id="attachment_75369" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 06: Brad Crouch of the Saints in action during a St Kilda Saints AFL training session at Moorabbin Oval on January 06, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)[/caption] Outs Nathan Brown (Retired), Doulton Langlands (Delisted), Ryan Abbott (Delisted), Jack Bell (Delisted), Jack Mayo (Delisted), Logan Austin (Delisted), Matt Parker (Delisted), Nick Hind (Essendon). Off-season Grade: B+ The Saints again turned their focus to ready-made players in the exchange period and got good players too. They maybe didn't get the outside midfielder they were after but Brad Crouch is a good addition nonetheless. Jack Higgins and James Frawley are both in Ratten's best 22, while Shaun McKernan will provide depth with Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall both set to miss Round 1. Defining Period The Saints are seen as the most likely team to crack the top four this year, but there are questions around whether they are able to match the top teams on the regular basis to make that leap. [caption id="attachment_31528" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Jade Gresham of the Saints handballs whilst being tackled by Trent Cotchin of the Tigers during the round 15 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium on June 30, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] They will get that answer very early, rounds 4-6 to be specific. They take on the Eagles and Richmond at Marvel Stadium which is a massive plus before they head over to South Australia to face Port Adelaide - who they beat over there last year. Their record coming out of this block will be crucial to them leapfrogging a team in the top 4. Best 22 B: Callum Wilkie, Dougal Howard, James Frawley HB: Nick Coffield, Jake Carlisle, Ben Long C: Bradley Hill, Brad Crouch, Jack Billings HF: Jack Higgins, Tim Membrey, Jade Gresham F: Dan Butler, Max King, Jarryn Geary FOLL: Rowan Marshall, Zak Jones, Jack Steele I/C: Josh Battle, Paddy Ryder, Hunter Clark, Seb Ross [caption id="attachment_21508" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Josh Battle of the Saints celebrates kicking a goal during the round 15 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 1, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Strengths and Weaknesses There's no doubt the Saints' strength lies in their speedy small forwards, they kill teams out the back and are as dangerous as any team (maybe bar Richmond) when the ball hits the ground. Their weakness maybe comes from their lack of defensively minded midfielders. Jack Steele is perhaps their most defensive on-baller but he still commits to attack heavily when the Saints have the ball. [caption id="attachment_42273" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: Dan Butler of the Saints celebrates a goal during the 2020 AFL Round 04 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium on June 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] They can get hurt on turnover with a midfield so keen to get involved, Brad Crouch isn't exactly going to help that either. They'll have to find a balance to make the leap to top 4. Prediction 7th It's hard to judge what is a pass for the Saints after they shocked the footy world last year. They will make the 8 again but they aren't ready to crack the top 4. They haven't fixed the areas they needed yet and this will separate them from the competition's elite. [caption id="attachment_42598" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 20: Rowan Marshall of the Saints celebrates a goal during the round 3 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 20, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )[/caption]

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

Season Preview: St Kilda

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