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Buckley breaks down St Kilda's poor form ahead of challenging run
Jaiden Sciberras • May 31st, 2025 4:01 pm
In a season charged with negative media, former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley took the liberty of drawing attention back to St Kilda’s on-field situation thus far.
After a vibrant start for Ross Lyon’s men, the Saints have stagnated, managing just one win from their last seven games to sit in 14th place ahead of Round 12.
In typical Ross Lyon fashion, the Saints have been measured in their tactical set-up, squeezing on the defensive end in attempt to limit scores against while utilising the run on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair to bounce off the back half.
With that being said, Lyon’s talent at hand appears insufficient for the game style desired by the veteran coach.
While their forward half has performed above expectations, with small-forward Jack Higgins’ 28 goals leading the Saints to ninth in total points scored, their ability to stem transition goals from their defensive half has left the side exposed on numerous occasions.
“We’ve seen some of their best, they’ve played six top eight sides, 1-5 with that win against Geelong,” Buckley told SEN’s Whateley.
“I think any win against Geelong is a good win, and that’s probably been the pinnacle of their season.
“They’ve had a 71-point loss to the Dogs, 63 points to Adelaide, 45 points to Brisbane, so when they drop off, they drop off big.
“I think that’s probably evidence of a system-based approach, and Ross Lyon’s obviously a very system-based coach and roles are in place.
“Sometimes St Kilda just don’t look good enough. (They don't have) enough ability to execute that role or that skill in the moment or to have the talent to be able to take advantage of three or four or five done positively to finish.
“That’s where they are at. 4-7, 90 per cent, Ross is cobbling flat out. Always trying to find a mix, moving his midfielder around to get enough ball going forward.
“He’s probably got two of the best running defenders in the competition in (Jack) Sinclair and Wanganeen-Milera, (Callum) Wilkie’s always been up there and thereabouts, I think (Anthony) Caminiti is coming along.
“They find a few here and there, (Jack) Higgins is in great form, they’ve got some players that have actually had really good first halves of the season.
“I think they’re just on the same path, trying to find a few diamonds in the rough. (Darcy) Wilson has stagnated a little bit, (Mattaes) Phillipou has missed a lot of footy, they’ve got a few questions to answer but the next half of the season is probably about continuing to improve their median performance and getting closer to their best more often.”
In order to keep their season alive, the Saints will need to claim some major scalps in the coming weeks, with the Dees in Darwin to come, followed by the Bulldogs and Collingwood after their Round 13 bye.
“They play Melbourne up in Alice Springs,” Buckley continued.
“That’s going to be a challenge the way Melbourne are going, but that’s the type of game that St Kilda could turn up, with a plan, and get it done.
“They’re a very dangerous matchup for that reason; if they are on their tucker, they start well and they build belief around the plan that’s rolled out, because there’s always a winnable plan that’s presented to those players I’ve got no doubt, it’s just a matter of whether they can execute it or not.
“They’re capable of an outlier performance, but their median performance suggests that they’re going to bounce around in that third quartile of the ladder.”
