Reversing an embarrassing interstate record stands between St Kilda and the clubs first finals appearance in six years.
Since 2013 the Saints have won three of 24 matches outside Victoria, including five losses last year by an average of 53 points, highlighted by a 103-point belting by West Coast and an 88-point mauling at the hand of the Crows.
“We have to bridge the gap and that’s interstate wins…or just be competitive at least because we’ve got flogged interstate at times,” Saints’ midfielder David Armitage told SEN’s The Run Home.
“That’s what we’ve been working on and that’s not always physical, it’s a little bit mental as well and we’ve had Sean Richardson in working on that.”
Richardson, a leading sports psychologist, has been charged with changing a losing mentally on the road for a St Kilda team that missed last year’s finals by percentage.
In stark contrast to the Saints woeful road record, Hawthorn’s triple-premiership heroics was highlighted by a 20-5 record outside Victoria.
As a key engine room piece for a club considered by many to be on the rise, Armitage said he was excited about the year ahead after completing a strong summer.
After finishing runner-up in the 2015 best and fairest Armitage was equal 10th last year despite playing all 22 games. The 28-year-old averaged 21 disposals in 2016, down from 28 a year earlier.
“I’m actually really excited and in a really good headspace and looking forward to recapturing my form from two years ago,” he said.
The Saints start the year with one of the healthiest lists in the competition after 43 players completed training on Monday.
Armitage, who is part of the Saints’ new-look leadership group headlined by skipper Jarryn Geary, pinpointed youngsters Jade Gresham and Jack Billings as big improvers after a strong summer of training.
St Kilda opens its season campaign against Port Adelaide tomorrow night in the opening round of JLT Community Series at Etihad Stadium.