Let's Start with New Coaches

[Ghost Like]

The fact that Winx is now clearly inferior to his brother is a disgrace.

Big changes need to be made.

Max should get a new nickname, Winx was a mighty fine performer, Max isn't, yet.

Fine Cotton

Apologies desertsaint, didn't see your post. Great minds!

[Laurie]

I would agree with new assistants however stick with Ratten for time being.
Would like to see assistants in the calibre of Leppistch Caracella Williams

[Ghost Like]

I would agree with new assistants however stick with Ratten for time being.
Would like to see assistants in the calibre of Leppistch Caracella Williams

I agree with you Laurie, time for fresh voices, fresh ideas, up to date IP from successful clubs. It is time to purge Ratts of his assistants...it worked for Hardwick.

Hamill - too long there, a player who could but an assistant who can't
Srobolak - who??? He doesn't have a good rep down the Bellarine, still scratching my head how he found an AFL spot
Lade - the previous two clubs he was at have improved, after he left. Time to let us improve

Let's target specific assistants who know their area of the ground.

Backs - Find Nick Smith, was a Saints supporter as a kid, ignored by Lyon, Sydney rookied him, got promoted, made the Leadership group, AA & Premiership Player

Midfield - a Liam Picken or a Matt Priddis, two players who got the very best from themselves and were key players in Premiership midfields

Forward - a Justin Westhoff or Brett Deledio, two players who have fought back and through injuries. Played in two positions, fwd / mid, from clubs that have got close but remained thereabouts.

[Teflon]

I would agree with new assistants however stick with Ratten for time being.
Would like to see assistants in the calibre of Leppistch Caracella Williams

Yep that’s my take too clean out dud assistants, rejuvenate the development program
Let Ratten see out final year but he’s on notice next year
Libba gets this trade period - King Clarke Bytel Byrnes Coffield Wilkie Patons etc are wins....don’t want too many more duds
I would also like to see an experienced director of coaching appointed eg Ross Lyon style (or Choco)
We are 2-3 years away but I don’t think we are as bad
To suggest coach has minimal impact is simplistic- he chooses the team, he keeps deciding to play 3 **** smalls when it ain’t working, he keeps plonking Battle all over the ground and HE is responsible for the lack of a defensive game plan/system when things aren’t going our way. He’d also h@ve a fair say in player development.......coaching group have a bit to answer for as do some lane player efforts

[B.M]

Maybe a Captain Coach

Then they could get a kick, kick a goal... have some tangible impact on the game

[Ghost Like]

It's hard to imagine the thought process that coaches aren't important unless you've done it and been sacked, blaming the players and whatever else.

It all goes to prove that all facets of a club need to be as one. The Board, the Football Department including the recruiters, the Players and the Coaching Staff including the fitness / medical team. If one of those is not up to scratch, the rest fall over.

[B.M]

The players are by far and away the most important aspect

Look at Richmond last year

Of field dramas everywhere

Good player = flag

[Ghost Like]

Why didn't we win in 97, 09, 10? I'm sure pound for pound we had the equal if not better players.
Are you telling me GWS have a shocking list?
I think a coach who can get the best out of his bottom 6 and more than just natural ability out of his Top 10 is invaluable.

[Viscount Jeremiah]

So sick of people on the internet who want to sack the coach every time the team plays poorly.

FFS this s*** has gone on long enough we can't keep sacking coaches.

Ratten is good enough, we need to recruit better and build a better team for him to work with

[GSG]

So sick of people on the internet who want to sack the coach every time the team plays poorly.

FFS this s*** has gone on long enough we can't keep sacking coaches.

Ratten is good enough, we need to recruit better and build a better team for him to work with

Amen to that!

[Laurie]

We always seem to point the fingers at our coaches at St.Kilda and quickly ask for their sacking.
A fish always start to rot at the head as i believe is happening at present.
We supporters are over the recruiting of players on big $ with no or very little output.
Why should we keep Hannebery clogging our list my say is he will play 3 games towards end of season and thenget his body right for 2022.
Have heard it all before.
Thanks for coming but no thanks goodbye.
BOOM BOIM

[Ghost Like]

So sick of people on the internet who want to sack the coach every time the team plays poorly.

FFS this s*** has gone on long enough we can't keep sacking coaches.

Ratten is good enough, we need to recruit better and build a better team for him to work with

Of course Ratten is good enough, it's his assistants that need changing. The very best of cars need new tyres every few years.

[spert]

Carlton moved Ratts on as they thought he was out of ideas and treading water.

[Ghost Like]

Carlton moved Ratts on as they thought he was out of ideas and treading water.

Yep, the last thing Carlton wanted to be doing was playing in finals.

[B.M]

Jury is still out on Ratten

My guess he will finish his contract and not be resigned

We will go for an overpriced big fish out of desperation

[SAINT-LEE]

The coach is not the issue!!!

I’m convinced the coach is seriously overrated!!!

Case in point
How is Alistair Clarkson going right now?!

Players make coaches, not the other way around IMO

My order of importance
1-Top 6 players
2-Bottom 6 players (17-22)
3-Injuries
4-Depth players
5-Recruiting Dept
6-Senior Coach
7-Assistant Line Coaches
8-Fitness Staff
9-Development Coaches
10-Footy Manager

Lol...how is Alastair doing right now?

Well he's trying to rebuild a team....at club where:
- In his first 2 seasons he cut 16 of the starting 22 from 2004 ( before he began)
- He claims he chose Buddy Franklin in the 2004 draft ( no one has disputed this).
- When he beat Gary Ayres Terry Wallace, Rodney Eade and John Longmire for the coaching job he said his main focus would be the most important thing in football....DISCIPLINE.
- He's won 4 premierships in the last 14 seasons
- He's been in the finals 10 times in past 15 seasons
- He has the highest finals win ratio of 70% than any other team in the last 15 seasons
- Has win loss ratio of 69% which includes some lean years in rebuild mode
- He holds the record for assistant coaches who became senior coaches:
1. Damien Hardwick, Richmond (2010–present, 2017, 2019 and 2020 premiership coach)
2. Todd Viney, Melbourne (2011 caretaker coach)
3. Leon Cameron, Greater Western Sydney (2014–present)
4. Adam Simpson, West Coast (2014–present, 2018 premiership coach)
5. Luke Beveridge, Western Bulldogs (2015–present, 2016 premiership coach)
6. John Barker, Carlton (2015 caretaker coach)
7. Brendon Bolton, Carlton (2016–2019)1
8. Chris Fagan, Brisbane Lions (2017–present)
9. Brett Ratten, St Kilda (2019 caretaker coach, 2020–present)

Sooooo yeah probably not the sh1ttiest coach out there, a wanker? Yes indeed. But a damn genius.


I agree B.M. its a multi-faceted issue occurring at St Kilda.

But the senior and all the coaches and fitness gurus and football manager all need to step down and we need a total rebuild. Alastair got rid of every person from football manager down in 2 years, the next year they played a final...year after that...well, history began.

Ratts is not pulling players who do not give a flying f@ck each week because the option is newbies...well, so what! I guarantee any newbie we have would have the same or better stats overall than Hill. Yes he was ok today but weeks of less than 10 disposals and zero effort to chase or tackle...

[B.M]

And how’s that genius going without his stars?

[SAINT-LEE]

And how’s that genius going without his stars?

The stars he drafted or traded in?
He's doing a total rebuild.
I'd have more confidence in him than Ratts to turn this team around.
He has proven he can start with a team that beat the wooden spoon on percentage and win 4 grand finals.

I also highly rate Williams as does every club where he has worked and they end up winning grand finals.

Ratts is very good but he doesn't seem to know where to position players at times and won't take massive risks like dropping Hill, King, etc even for one game....persisting with a kicking coach that has us a laughing stock when legends are offering to help? That's a coach who lacks the skill to think outside the box to win at all costs.

[Ghost Like]

The coach is not the issue!!!

I’m convinced the coach is seriously overrated!!!

Case in point
How is Alistair Clarkson going right now?!

Players make coaches, not the other way around IMO

My order of importance
1-Top 6 players
2-Bottom 6 players (17-22)
3-Injuries
4-Depth players
5-Recruiting Dept
6-Senior Coach
7-Assistant Line Coaches
8-Fitness Staff
9-Development Coaches
10-Footy Manager

Lol...how is Alastair doing right now?

Well he's trying to rebuild a team....at club where:
- In his first 2 seasons he cut 16 of the starting 22 from 2004 ( before he began)
- He claims he chose Buddy Franklin in the 2004 draft ( no one has disputed this).
- When he beat Gary Ayres Terry Wallace, Rodney Eade and John Longmire for the coaching job he said his main focus would be the most important thing in football....DISCIPLINE.
- He's won 4 premierships in the last 14 seasons
- He's been in the finals 10 times in past 15 seasons
- He has the highest finals win ratio of 70% than any other team in the last 15 seasons
- Has win loss ratio of 69% which includes some lean years in rebuild mode
- He holds the record for assistant coaches who became senior coaches:
1. Damien Hardwick, Richmond (2010–present, 2017, 2019 and 2020 premiership coach)
2. Todd Viney, Melbourne (2011 caretaker coach)
3. Leon Cameron, Greater Western Sydney (2014–present)
4. Adam Simpson, West Coast (2014–present, 2018 premiership coach)
5. Luke Beveridge, Western Bulldogs (2015–present, 2016 premiership coach)
6. John Barker, Carlton (2015 caretaker coach)
7. Brendon Bolton, Carlton (2016–2019)1
8. Chris Fagan, Brisbane Lions (2017–present)
9. Brett Ratten, St Kilda (2019 caretaker coach, 2020–present)

Sooooo yeah probably not the sh1ttiest coach out there, a wanker? Yes indeed. But a damn genius.


I agree B.M. its a multi-faceted issue occurring at St Kilda.

But the senior and all the coaches and fitness gurus and football manager all need to step down and we need a total rebuild. Alastair got rid of every person from football manager down in 2 years, the next year they played a final...year after that...well, history began.

Ratts is not pulling players who do not give a flying f@ck each week because the option is newbies...well, so what! I guarantee any newbie we have would have the same or better stats overall than Hill. Yes he was ok today but weeks of less than 10 disposals and zero effort to chase or tackle...

All very well said and researched. A bit of wasted energy though because it's all about the players, especially those that win B&Fs, get Brownlow votes...forget the kids, don't talk to them, don't instruct them, don't coach them...let them sink or swim.

I totally agree with you SAINT-LEE, but some prefer to quote Ian Chappell / Warne about the worth of coaches. Quite sad.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

In half a season we got absolutely flogged four times. May get flogged another four times before the season are out.

Players demonstrably going backwards.

Not sure a coach can recover from that.

Can you name any coach who has?

[Ghost Like]

In half a season we got absolutely flogged four times. May get flogged another four times before the season are out.

Players demonstrably going backwards.

Not sure a coach can recover from that.

Can you name any coach who has?

Good question. One to ask the President. Personally we stick with the Head Coach, sack the leaches. Best ask Richmond and Melbourne if sacking the head coach is the answer.

Let me know their replies, please.

[Impatient Sainter]

I would agree with new assistants however stick with Ratten for time being.
Would like to see assistants in the calibre of Leppistch Caracella Williams

I agree with you Laurie, time for fresh voices, fresh ideas, up to date IP from successful clubs. It is time to purge Ratts of his assistants...it worked for Hardwick.

Hamill - too long there, a player who could but an assistant who can't
Srobolak - who??? He doesn't have a good rep down the Bellarine, still scratching my head how he found an AFL spot
Lade - the previous two clubs he was at have improved, after he left. Time to let us improve

Let's target specific assistants who know their area of the ground.

Backs - Find Nick Smith, was a Saints supporter as a kid, ignored by Lyon, Sydney rookied him, got promoted, made the Leadership group, AA & Premiership Player

Midfield - a Liam Picken or a Matt Priddis, two players who got the very best from themselves and were key players in Premiership midfields

Forward - a Justin Westhoff or Brett Deledio, two players who have fought back and through injuries. Played in two positions, fwd / mid, from clubs that have got close but remained thereabouts.

Total agreeance. Keep Ratts, Rath, Roughead and Bachelor the rest beed replacing...

[Ghost Like]

I would agree with new assistants however stick with Ratten for time being.
Would like to see assistants in the calibre of Leppistch Caracella Williams

I agree with you Laurie, time for fresh voices, fresh ideas, up to date IP from successful clubs. It is time to purge Ratts of his assistants...it worked for Hardwick.

Hamill - too long there, a player who could but an assistant who can't
Srobolak - who??? He doesn't have a good rep down the Bellarine, still scratching my head how he found an AFL spot
Lade - the previous two clubs he was at have improved, after he left. Time to let us improve

Let's target specific assistants who know their area of the ground.

Backs - Find Nick Smith, was a Saints supporter as a kid, ignored by Lyon, Sydney rookied him, got promoted, made the Leadership group, AA & Premiership Player

Midfield - a Liam Picken or a Matt Priddis, two players who got the very best from themselves and were key players in Premiership midfields

Forward - a Justin Westhoff or Brett Deledio, two players who have fought back and through injuries. Played in two positions, fwd / mid, from clubs that have got close but remained thereabouts.

Total agreeance. Keep Ratts, Rath, Roughead and Bachelor the rest beed replacing...

Not sure about Rath or Bachelor but totally agree.

[Yorkeys]

Ok substantially agree, now it is impossible to make finals (see laws of probability).

However keep Ratts, I like his passion for the Club and think he knows what needs to be done but injuries have cruelly conspired against him.

As for other coaches and Danny Sexton it does seem that a shake up is needed. I'd suggest Sexton go if I was sure what he does, but whatever it does not seem to be helping. Roughy as forwards coach is a big disappointment (yes?) and in any case we can't afford such poor clutch goal kicking to continue. Off topic but Highmore as a forward?

The next step is the grand clean out of retiring and banged up players and the excitement new guys on the list brings. Of course the continual lockdowns in Victoria mean attracting a coach from say NSW rural, like say Lenny, makes it a hard sell.

Perhaps ask a specialist sports doctor if collectively and individually all our injuries are within the accepted margins of medical/training expectations, and if not why.

Finals expectations suitably lowered my Captain, onto the second half of 2021 and beyond. Look forward to stuffing up the ladder positions of some of the sides that have pants us in the first half - revenge can be sweet.

[B.M]

We just NEED to have someone to blame, don’t we?!

First it was all AR

Therefore if we replaced him, all would be better

Now it’s the assistant coaches (the very same ones that were there last season)

I blame A Hamill & Skrobalak