THE bulk of St Kilda’s improvement in 2016 will be natural progression, rather than an overarching shift in game style or tactics, according to senior coach Alan Richardson.
When he was appointed, Richardson stated his desire for the Saints to be the most difficult team to play against – ferocious at the ball and clinical in offence.
While 2014 was a year of rebuilding, there were clear signs in 2015 that Richardson’s ambition was taking shape.
“Our improvement will come organically from the players getting more experience and the guys having a more enhanced understanding about how we want to play,” Richardson told SAINTS.com.au.
“There will be some modification to the way we play and some evolution.”
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With the ball, St Kilda improved greatly this year, although skill errors and an inability to punish opposition teams on the scoreboard may have cost the Saints an extra win or two.
Richardson is aware of his team’s deficiencies and plans to rectify them over the summer.
“We need to get better with our polish and the way that we enter our forward 50,” he said.
“We were 18th for conversion so we need to get better shots on goal. That’s not just a reflection of blokes missing shots, but the reality is we need to get better looks at it in front of goal.
“We’re looking to be aggressive with the way we move the footy and attack at every opportunity.”
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From a defensive perspective, the Saints conceded 100 or more points in a game 14 times in Richardson’s first year in charge, compared to nine in the season just gone.
While not perfect, St Kilda’s defensive system is not purely based around nullifying opposition forwards, rather the Saints seek to boldly win the ball back either via strong tackling or intercept marking.
“We defended in a manner that gave us the opportunity to win the ball back in the front half. We were ninth in the competition for midfield turnover,” Richardson said.
“Our defenders will be aggressive and bold in the way that they position themselves to come forward and help their mates.”
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While some clubs base their tactics and strategies around the way other team’s play, St Kilda’s brand is one that will not try to copy a Hawthorn or West Coast model.
Instead, St Kilda’s style of play heading into 2016 will be neatly attuned to the type of players that will look to implement it.
“The reality is we have to find a way that works for our group,” he said.
“That needs to be intertwined with your fundamental beliefs as to what will win finals footy. At this stage we will not win every hit out like West Coast or Fremantle do, so there is a bit of a trade-off and balance.
“We’ll do it our own way. This is not to say that our own way is radically different from any other team.”
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