2021 was a whirlwind of a year for St Kilda, with breakout performances, match-winning efforts and emotional moments all being showcased throughout the season.

With the home and away season having come to a close, we are reliving the best moments from 2021. After counting down the moments from 8 to 5, today we reveal our top four moments of the 2021 season.

4 – Dangerous Dan Butler 

Was it a tackle? Was it a bump? For Dan Butler, all that mattered was he was paid the free kick.

Deciding against the traditional methods to bring down a player, Butler instead opted to throw his entire bodyweight into Callan Ward as he brought down the Giant in a hybrid version of a tackle and bump.

Paid the free kick, Butler would slot the goal that sealed a comeback for the ages on the road, which had been kicked off by a Jack Lonie miracle, and ended off the boot of the 2017 premiership player.

3 – Man of Steele

Death, taxes and Jack Steele delivering.

Always one for the occasion, the St Kilda skipper stepped up to the plate when Brisbane came surging in the fourth quarter of Round 17. Leading the Lions by 13 points, Steele proceeded to go on a tear, grabbing 15 disposals, five marks, four clearances and two goals to see the Saints home.

The first goal was a coolly-converted set shot to give his side a handy 18-point buffer, while the second truly signalled party time as Steele gathered cleanly before snapping off his left boot to ensure St Kilda came home with the win.

It was yet another three-vote game for the man who would eventually take out his second-straight Trevor Barker Award, who would go on to prove his worth as one of the premiere midfielders in the competition. 

2- Spud’s Game

It was an emotional yet powerful sight at the start of Round 2, with both St Kilda and Melbourne coming together in the middle of the ground to celebrate Spud’s Game.

A ground-breaking new initiative from the Saints, Spud’s Game allowed players and supporters alike to celebrate the legacy of the late, great Danny Frawley while helping tackle mental health issues within the community.

Players, umpires and AFL greats stood together in the middle of Marvel Stadium as the game was delayed by two minutes so we had the time to talk.

1 – King of the west

In years to come, we may look at St Kilda’s Round 19 outing against West Coast as the coming of age of Max King.

The 21-year-forward showed how destructive he can be with a best-on-ground performance, almost dragging his side over the line.

In a game reminiscent of when the AFL landscape was roamed by monstrous full-forwards, King’s output was from a bygone era, clunking marks for fun and then converting the majors to put on a show for both Eagles and Saints fans alike

Six goals and eight contested marks inside-50 (an AFL record) showcased the capabilities of the exciting youngster, and in a year where he booted 38 goals for the club, the 2022 season cannot come fast enough for King.