David King says St Kilda has been found out to a degree after a strong start to the season has come down a peg in recent weeks.
The Saints won five of their first six games in quickly gaining momentum, but haven’t strung consistent victories together since.
Now at 7-4 and beaten by 16th-placed Hawthorn in Round 11, the Saints’ season is currently at its lowest ebb.
Ross Lyon’s side is still firmly engrained in the top eight, but when asked on SEN’s Whateley if St Kilda has been figured out, David King replied: “Yes. That’s the simple answer.
“When you’ve got limited talent - that’s the reality, and that’s why Ross has got the job - system can only take you so far.
“You found a really good way of winning games early, teams have worked that out pretty quick and talent doesn’t then save them.
“They don’t have a Connor Rozee and Zak Butters who can go and win the game for them in 10 minutes… they’ve got to find them, they’ve got to go back to the draft, they’ve got to do some great trading and some free agency love would be warranted.”
King pointed to St Kilda’s defensive woes as the club's main struggles.
Excluding a contest against North Melbourne, the Saints have conceded an average of 93 points a game since Round 6. Prior to that, Lyon has created what was clearly the best defensive system in the competition.
“Without the footy they’re getting got. They’re bottom four in the comp over the last six weeks when they don’t have possession of the footy, that wasn’t the case at the start of the year,” he continued.
“I would expect Ross to make some changes in the next couple of weeks. A coach who has been so good at defending… will go back to some of his own.
“So I think there will be some tough love from the senior coach to his disciples over the next couple of weeks.”
St Kilda was 8-3 last year prior to missing the finals, with the club this year a win behind that heading into the Round 12 bye.