The story so far:

ST KILDA has played 36 players in the first 11 weeks of the season – the equal third most in the competition, highlighting the transition that is taking place with an eye to the future.

A host of experienced stars are still performing strongly, with Nick Riewoldt at the forefront of this group. But with regeneration comes evolution and Scott Watters has handed AFL debuts to six young Saints this year on top of adding to Seb Ross’ Jack Newnes’ and Sam Dunell’s short but promising careers.

It’s been a difficult first half of the season in terms of wins and losses. At 2-9, finals may be a stretch but what hasn’t deteriorated is the willingness to compete at a high level. This was exemplified against the Sydney Swans in New Zealand, a match in which the Saints fought tirelessly in but ultimately fell 16 points short of the reigning premier.

It was a similar story against Collingwood the following week, and narrow losses to Gold Coast, Richmond and West Coast have all proved costly.

St Kilda’s round seven encounter against Carlton was a snapshot to the future. Jack Steven collected 39 disposals and Seb Ross had 21 touches in a nine-point victory. It was an impressive performance led by the next generation of Saints stars.

Nick Riewoldt’s value to the Saints cannot be underestimated. He is the spearhead and captain of the club - a five-time best and fairest who looks on track for his sixth Trevor Barker Medal. The 30-year-old’s career is decorated with individual honours, but it is his capacity to set the standard for his younger teammates that has proved most valued this season.

What to look forward to:

The progression of young talent is an overwhelming positive for St Kilda and will continue flourish in the second half of the year. Jack Newnes has established himself as one of the Saints’ classiest midfielders, while the efforts of Nathan Wright, although recently curtailed by injury, have been exemplary. Fans should look forward to the continued development of these two players in the second half of the season.

Equally pleasing has been the advancement of Jack Steven’s inside and outside game. He has progressed from a zippy impact player to a match-hardened, line-breaking midfielder capable of racking up huge numbers. He has amassed more disposals than any other Saint this season, averaging 25 per game.

The direction:

Scott Watters has made no secret of his desire to get AFL games into 10-12 young players while holding onto the raft of experienced stars who remain key contributors and vital mentors. Fast-tracking their development may have some short term pain but ultimately deliver long term success. Speed bumps are part of the course, but it is a journey and broader than any one game according to the Saints coach.

Despite his desire to inject youth into the senior team, Watters has been steadfast in not gifting games to youngsters. There is still a standard that needs to be upheld at the club, and each new player must earn the right to play for St Kilda. It’s a mindset that allows players to be selected when they area in-form, exemplified by Jimmy Webster’s handful of appearances in the red, white and black.  

Watch out for:

Three rebounding defenders: Jimmy Webster, Nathan Wright and Dylan Roberton.

All three are valuable offensive commodities, but not the detriment of their defensive game. Webster is a beautiful ball-user, a skilful left-footer who possesses elite kicking skills. Wright is a strong-bodied back-flanker who breaks the lines and isn’t afraid to take the game on. Roberton is a composed, measured and intelligent footballer who regularly finds space in tight situations. He is a young leader

All three have the potential to form the backbone of St Kilda’s defence for the next decade.

The statistics:

Ladder position:                                 16th

Wins:                                                    16th

Losses:                                                16th

Points for:                                             900

Points against:                                    1049

Average winning margin:                   40.5 points

Average losing margin:                       25.6 points

Leading ball-winners (average):  

  1. Leigh Montagna:     26.7
  2. Jack Steven:             25       
  3. Nick Dal Santo:        22.8

Leading goal-kickers (total):

  1. Nick Riewoldt:           30
  2. Stephen Milne:          18
  3. Ahmed Saad:            13

 

You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32