St Kilda has been highly criticised for the amount of money it has spent on the likes of Tom De Koning and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, but former Saint Jason Gram can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Gram, speaking to Zero Hanger, believes that his old side had to go big with some top-line players to help keep a strong list together, before beginning to pick off rival players in the years to come.
"They had a pretty rough start. There was a lot of away games, travelling games," the 156-gamer said.
"I keep hearing the Saints spent all this money but they're no good. But sometimes like those sort of teams have to spend the money to start, and then once you start getting good, players will want to come to your team, and then you don't have to pay them all $1.5 million.
"They want to be in a team that's playing finals and then everyone starts taking unders, and then the team wants to stick together.
"Sometimes you've got to make that sacrifice to pay some big players to come to your club, like NAS or TDK. But once they start winning, other people will want to come to the Saints and take unders because they know they want to play finals.
"I think that's the model they're going down."
Gram was part of the last successful era at St Kilda, playing nine seasons in the tri colours.
He played in three grand finals (two in 2010) as well as four consecutive finals series. He noted the top-end talent like Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo were the highest-paid players, but the likes of Steven King, Adam Schneider, Farren Ray, Michael Gardiner and Sean Dempster well all traded in as they recognised the Saints were on the rise.
"We weren't getting paid $1.5 million," he joked.
"But we had a star midfielder such as Dal Santo, Montagna, Hayes, Riewoldt. They all could've gone to other teams and got more money, but you stick together once you start winning.
"Obviously, the Saints haven't won a premiership in a long time, but if you can be a part of that next premiership for the Saints, it's going to be pretty special to the fans and the club. We knew that. We were close.
"I think about that all the time. Imagine sitting here as a two-time premiership player. It hurts.
"But I hope the Saints (achieve the ultimate). They've spent the money. I think they'll probably chase someone else. And once they start winning, players will come for unders."
Gram also lauded the skillset and adaptability of Ross Lyon as coach of the Saints.
The pair worked closely during the entirety of Lyon's first stint at Moorabbin.
"In my experience, 100 percent," he said of Lyon.
"I think Ross is an amazing coach. He gets the best out of every player who is part of the club. They're still missing Max King. They've had a few injuries. They've travelled a lot. I think he's definitely the next guy as the smartest footy brain going around. He knows every single player.
"I am 100 percent in support of him. And all the players I played with would say the same thing."
