Why 2026 is the year of the Saints....hopefully, maybe

If you’re a regular listener to SEN, you’ll know that I’m a dyed-in-the-wool St Kilda supporter and have been since 1973, when as an eight-year-old I was introduced to the club by a family who lived in the same street.

A part of me wishes that family had barracked for any club other than the Saints, but despite half a century without a flag I remain a true believer and have faith that the day will finally come.

There is a real feeling around the club that a new, and very exciting era may be dawning but given how many false dawns there have been since I saw my first game at Moorabbin, you can understand why I’m a little gun shy.

I could barely contain myself back in 1980 when St Kilda signed Carlton champion Alex Jesaulenko, fresh off leading the Blues to the flag. Things started promisingly but after four weeks we were back to our wooden spoon-winning ways.

Then there was 1985. We had signed a few players from other clubs including the highly rated Geoff Ablett from the Tigers and Andy Bennett from the all-conquering Hawks. Hopes were high for a turnaround but three losses of more than 100 points in the first three rounds quickly put paid to that.

Since then, my beloved Saints have got within touching distance of the ultimate prize on several occasions, including that heart-breaking Grand Final draw and subsequent thrashing from the Pies in 2010 but as every footy fan knows we have ultimately fallen short. So why is this year different from all the others?

For starters, the attitude of the club from the top down is one of single-minded determination. Our president, Andrew Bassat has been willing to put a few noses out of joint in pleading his club’s case. As for coach Ross Lyon, he reckons we have been “taking a knife to a gun fight” in recent years.

Finally, the club has done something about it and an incredibly aggressive trade period has seen us arm ourselves to the teeth.

We have secured two prime free agents from Carlton, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni. There’s been plenty of outside noise questioning the bold play that landed the duo, but I couldn’t be happier given how much flack I copped back in the day from my many friends who supported Carlton.

They not only rubbed their club’s success in my face but also took great pleasure in describing St Kilda as the retirement home for the Blues’ washed-up stars, and they might have been right.

The former Bluebaggers are joined by former West Coast premiership player Liam Ryan and the very smart Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders. Not a bad haul and something to get excited about.

As exciting as the new boys are, nothing matches the unbridled joy I felt when Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera recommitted to the club. We’ve been crying out for an A-grader for years and this guy is an A++.

The club also has talented youngsters such as Mitch Owens, Max Hall, Mattaes Phillipou, Alix Tauru, Dary Wilson, Marcus Windhager and Hugh Boxshall that should all be reaching their prime in the next couple of years. The playing list looks right to go, but the main reason I believe our time has come is not because of the cattle, it’s because of the man in charge of the herd.

St Kilda’s big spending has plenty of people in the football world waiting for the club to fall over … again.

And that’s the space Lyon loves to coach in. He’ll be stressing to the playing group that it’s us against the rest of the world and it’s that siege mentality that he used to take both the Saints and the Dockers to grand finals.

All you have to do is go one step further and a legion of Saints’ supporters will be able to die happy.

I’m sure many of you would be having a laugh at this and be thinking I must be dreaming.

Perhaps I am, but after 15 years of going into an AFL season knowing deep down that this isn’t going to be your year, it’s great to finally have some real hope and optimism.

Ever since the fixture came out, I’ve been counting the days to this weekend and the big clash with Collingwood.

The long wait is finally over, and who knows, seven months from now, the really, really, long wait might be over as well.

Finey’s Final Siren is back on SEN every Friday night after the footy.