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Sport Nation
Why aggressive trade period is a “fork in the road” for St Kilda
Andrew Slevison • September 4th, 2025 1:30 pm
St Kilda simply must play finals in 2026.
The Saints are being very aggressive in the player acquisition space, luring Carlton pair Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni to Moorabbin as free agents on massive money.
Those ins come after they locked up the prized signature of All-Australian gun Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
But it doesn’t stop there.
GWS defender Leek Aleer, West Coast forward Liam Ryan and Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders are all being heavily courted by the Saints.
With all of this potential trade activity, Kane Cornes wonders what the general expectations will be for the club.
He firmly believes that Ross Lyon’s Saints - who finished 12th with a 9-14 record this year - have to at least be active next September for this aggressive trade plan to have worked.
“Saints fans, what are your expectations?,” Cornes pondered on SEN’s Sportsday.
“This youth talk is good for a year and it’s been amazing, a great strategic move to alleviate any pressure on the footy club, wheeling out the ‘we’re young’ line.
“That’s not going to last next year. When you are this aggressive, when you’re spending this much, when it’s De Koning, when it’s Silvagni - these are mid to late 20s players.
“They’re going after a few others. Leek Aleer comes in on big money, Wanganeen-Milera stays. It’s got to be finals, it has to the target now if you are to land one or two more.
“Or even if not, finals has to be the goal with you being this aggressive.
“Their 22 on paper looks good next year. Obviously that revolves a lot around Mattaes Phillipou and Max King and the health of the squad.
“I think it’s an exciting best 22 if they can get get them on the park.”
Josh Jenkins agrees wholeheartedly that the Saints must play finals.
He described it as a “fork in the road” given they are being so aggressive from a list management standpoint by spending huge dollars on players who aren’t necessarily stars.
“No doubt, and I want to double down on that point,” Jenkins said of St Kilda’s finals prospects.
“This is a real fork in the road moment for Ross Lyon in his tenure as coach, Stephen Silvagni in his role, and others in prominent positions. It’s an absolute fork in the road moment for them.
“If you are to be this aggressive, and if you are to pay these players what you’re paying them and committing so much money for a long period of time… If there isn’t a spike in performance over the next 24 months - I think you can give them 24 months - because if you do bring in four or five key players there might be some growing pains.
“But you want to see improvement in the back half of the year. Based on what we think they’re going to have in their 22, we should see them make finals.
“Then maybe in 2027 it’s got to be an explosion for St Kilda. If not, then the plan to be aggressive is A) wasted, and B) problematic for the long term future of the club.”
