Opinion Have St Kilda been overhyped this year?

[GC2015]

Spent big money on their recruits in the off season and expectations were high. So far we've seen them...

Lose to Collingwood in Opening Round.

And are currently losing to Melbourne at half time in Round 1.

I think it's fair to say no one is expecting Collingwood or Melbourne to be top 4 teams in 2026.

So have the Saints been overhyped this year?

 

[LeeCarvallo]

Spent big money on their recruits in the off season and expectations were high. So far we've seen them...

Lose to Collingwood in Opening Round.

And are currently losing to Melbourne at half time in Round 1.

I think it's fair to say no one is expecting Collingwood or Melbourne to be top 4 teams in 2026.

So have the Saints been overhyped this year?

Very early call but their list build now just reeks of classic Stephen Silvagni mismanagement that we saw at both GWS and Carlton.

Absurd money given to the top few players and a list profile that lacks depth.

They have the top end talent to be good, but without significant improvement from guys like Phillipou, Wilson, Tauru, Owens, Garcia, Caminiti, Windhager etc. then it's hard to see them being genuine challengers.

 

[NetworkNerd]

I think most people thought the changes would push them into wildcard weekend contention. That may still be the case... still need to see the saints playing at Marvel

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Spent big money on their recruits in the off season and expectations were high. So far we've seen them...

Lose to Collingwood in Opening Round.

And are currently losing to Melbourne at half time in Round 1.

I think it's fair to say no one is expecting Collingwood or Melbourne to be top 4 teams in 2026.

So have the Saints been overhyped this year?

I completely reject the notion of 'spent big money on their recruits'.

You need good players. They haven't had good players for a decade.

If anything, they should have spent more!

They still have some very ordinary guys running around out there.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

FWIW, a guy like Mihocek is exactly what they need.

Hard nosed, pro, does the basics well.

That's what they need equally as much as they need star players.


But Franky, right now, far out they suck horribly.

 

[kreuze_missile]

I’m very happy with how they are going

 

[Bulldog1954]

I'm starting to think Scoops was wrong having 9 Saints in his top 50

 

[Trav 20]

What ? The Saints were brilliant today. Would have won against most opposition.

 

[Toump Ass]

Nas won't see out his contract.

Rabble.

 

[Cool Kangas]

I think could be a problematic that they’ve invested so heavily in 2 players to the detriment of the worth of existing players on their list and / or ability to attract other talent as they may not have the cap space. Some existing players may be antsy and look elsewhere if they feel they’re being under paid. I don’t know.

 

[_Mike_]

Long way to go, let’s not get too excited over 2 rounds

 

[demondavey]

I think most people thought the changes would push them into wildcard weekend contention. That may still be the case... still need to see the saints playing at Marvel

Pity the PF and GF is at the G

 

[JackFlash]

They've put all their eggs in the one basket and recruited a lot of B Graders at best! They have the Giants and Lions in the next 2 weeks, i can't imagine GWS being that crook again and the Lions will be no easy pickings despite players being missing! Ross the boss might be at a loss as 0-4 is a real possibility by Easter?

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

I think most people thought the changes would push them into wildcard weekend contention. That may still be the case... still need to see the saints playing at Marvel

It's nice of you to be civil about it - but it cannot be argued that if St Kilda are even remotely close to as horrible as they've been in the first two games - they will easily be bottom 4. Regardless of where the games are played.

The only thing that can save their season, is if what they've dished up is just an aberration. Otherwise, they're pathetic and will lose lots of games this year.

 

[Bald]

I was told they were a serious football club?

 

[demondavey]

Long way to go, let’s not get too excited over 2 rounds

I’d be pretty put out if I was a Saints fan. Melbourne scoring 120 points means that against an actual forward line you’re getting totally buried.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

They've put all their eggs in the one basket and recruited a lot of B Graders at best! They have the Giants and Lions in the next 2 weeks, i can't imagine GWS being that crook again and the Lions will be no easy pickings despite players being missing! Ross the boss might be at a loss as 0-4 is a real possibility by Easter?

I love bagging St Kilda, but this is just dumb.

They play at docklands on Sunday afternoons, and regardless of how much they suck every year - gets picks behind clubs above them because of stupid AFL rules like Academies and Father Sons.

There is literally no other option to bridge the gape between yourself and the top teams in terms of talent - than paying for them.

You simply can't get better players than what the northern teams and the 'big clubs' are getting - unless you open the cheque book.

As I said, I enjoy bagging the Saints, but the 'they paid too much money shit players' thing is just lazy and ignorant.

TDK, Flanders, SoSoS (or whatever shit acronym someone have him) were all heavily courted by other clubs and offered big dollars.

 

[Permission Capable]

I’d be pretty put out if I was a Saints fan. Melbourne scoring 120 points means that against an actual forward line you’re getting totally buried.

Perhaps but Melbourne's fwd line will be a lot more decent this year.

 

[_Mike_]

I’d be pretty put out if I was a Saints fan. Melbourne scoring 120 points means that against an actual forward line you’re getting totally buried.

Think back to Swans 0-6 season start, not all is over yet. Stranger things have happened (North 10-0 start then getting bundled out week 1).

Dees played good footy today

 

[Permission Capable]

Think back to Swans 0-6 season start, not all is over yet. Stranger things have happened (North 10-0 start then getting bundled out week 1).

Dees played good footy today

That Swans side probably should have won the flag in 2016 and played a GF in 2014 though. North had also made two prelims. This Saints side on the other hand...

 

[demondavey]

Think back to Swans 0-6 season start, not all is over yet. Stranger things have happened (North 10-0 start then getting bundled out week 1).

Dees played good footy today

St Kilda should be so far ahead of Melbourne. It’s pretty much season over unless they win one of the next 2. GWS and Brisbane. Could be messy.

 

[Gavin Excell]

St Kilda should be so far ahead of Melbourne. It’s pretty much season over unless they win one of the next 2. GWS and Brisbane. Could be messy.

Melbourne have the better coach and system

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

St Kilda should be so far ahead of Melbourne. It’s pretty much season over unless they win one of the next 2. GWS and Brisbane. Could be messy.

What do you mean by 'season over' though?

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Think back to Swans 0-6 season start, not all is over yet. Stranger things have happened (North 10-0 start then getting bundled out week 1).

Dees played good footy today

I don’t know if you can compare this Saints list to a Sydney team that started 2017 0-6 after a minor premiership and GF the previous season and then simply returned to form. Saints don’t really have the same bank balance in the last few years as the 2012-2016 Swans

Also the Swans ended up getting thrashed in the SF that year so

 

[PP34]

All that money and their midfield still stinks