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Live sport on SN this weekendExpectations for 2025 aren’t high but King expects St Kilda to “seriously spike” in coming years
Andrew Slevison, SEN • February 4th, 2025 4:00 pm
While the 2025 expectations for St Kilda aren’t as high as other teams, there is a bit to look forward to if you’re a Sainter.
That is according to David King who feels the Saints will still experience some teething issues in 2025 before building towards seriously spiking over the next couple of seasons.
King visited St Kilda training last week to observe Ross Lyon’s side, assessing that the club’s youngsters should be well equipped to have more of a say as they mature in the coming years.
“The one thing that really hit me is they’re still relying on a lot of young guys,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“And they are light bodies to step up and have a major say, not just be bits and pieces type roles. They need to be more than that.
“They’re going to be good players, I think they’re going to be ok. They’re just going to have some more teething pains whilst this list corrects.
“They’re not going to blow anyone away this year, I think we know what we’re going to get from the Saints.
“But I think the next couple of years they’ll seriously spike.”
King liked what he saw from some developing Saints including Max Hall, top draft pick Tobie Travaglia, Isaac Keeler, Arie Schoenmaker, Angus Hastie and Hugo Garcia.
“They’ve got a few little wildcard ones,” King continued.
“Hall, Travaglia, they’re just young players that will be ok. I’m a Keeler fan. He moves like a (Lance) Franklin type, I’m not saying he’s that player because he’ll probably make it as a defender more than a forward. But I think they have to have a look at him.
“Schoenmaker with his kicking skills. Can he smash the ball! Hastie and those sort of guys, Garcia looks different, there’s something about him that I like.
“They’re a bit away. Saints fans are sick of hearing that, I understand. They’re getting frustrated and they’ve been impatient for a couple of years.
“But this is part of the list correction they had to have.”
The North Melbourne great, who was twice an All-Australian defender, also reserved special praise for gun youngster Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
He loves what the former Pick 11 provides the Saints off half-back, but would like to see last year’s fifth best and fairest at times use his damaging foot skills in more dangerous areas.
“The one thing hits you is the kicking skills of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera,” he said of the 21-year-old.
“Some of the things he was doing with the ball… I’m not necessarily saying he’s the best kick in the game because I’d like to see it more centre-forward, and this is why I don’t know if you can keep them at half-back all their career (referencing rebounding defenders).
“I like the fact they throw (Jack) Sinclair onto the ball every now and then and I’m dying for them to throw Nasiah on the ball.
“Kicking inside 50 is the one thing they really lack. They bomb the ball to that predictable spot. I know that’s a bit of a bugbear for Saints fans that they don’t get bang for buck in the forward half.
“I think they could look at maximising his work.”
As for season 2025 expectations, King added: “I still think Ross will get the best out of this group, but I think the ceiling is 11 to 12 wins.
“I don’t know what the floor is if their senior players get injured.”
The Saints will take on Carlton in an unofficial practice match at IKON Park on February 22 before they meet Port Adelaide at RSEA Park on March 1 in the AAMI Community Series.
They kick off their 2025 season proper against the Crow at the Adelaide Oval on March 16.
