At a glance:

  • Dougal Howard says no improvement on last year's season will be "a bit of a step backwards".
  • The Saints have ensured they remain vigilant and hungry for success in 2021 to prevent complacency from creeping in.
  • St Kilda will play Carlton in the opening match of the 2021 AAMI Community Series on Thursday 4 March.

St Kilda must improve on its drought-breaking Season 2020 to earn a pass mark, according to Dougal Howard.

The key defender, who finished his first year at the club with a third-placed finish at the Trevor Barker Award, says the Saints are hungry to build upon last year's positive foundations.

“I don’t want to put a number or a position on it, but we’re definitely looking to be better than last year,” Howard told SEN.

If we don’t improve from last year, it would be a bit of a step backwards in my eyes.

- Dougal Howard

“With what we did last year – the vibe of the group, the position of age, the people we brought in – I think we’re in a really good position to make a step forward and go that little bit deeper into finals.

“(That’s) hopefully a Grand Final for us. That’s the ultimate goal and everyone’s going to say it, but you’ve got to be in finals contention first, so that’s definitely where we’re aiming.”

St Kilda bolstered its squad ahead of another push to September through Brad Crouch and Jack Higgins, both acquired from last year’s trade period.

But Howard said the addition of two superstars in the off-season wouldn't distract from the Saints' guiding mantra: success is earned, not given.

Last year’s finals entrée has only reinforced that.

“It’s a pretty dangerous one probably thinking ‘oh look, we’ve added in Crouch and Higgins, we’re going to go forward like it’s just inevitable’,” Howard said.

Saints and Blues to open AAMI Community Series

“But I think we’re in the right mindset at the moment that that’s not going to happen.

“There are lot of guys in our group who are so driven at the moment from the years of not (playing) a lot of finals, and had that taste last year and thought it didn’t taste too bad.

“They’re pretty keen to get back there and turn careers around and make it a successful one and a successful few years at the Saints.”

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