As I sit back and mull over the 2009 season, I wonder what did St. Kilda do that enabled them to take that elusive next step compared to the Bulldogs this year.
If you remember back to 2008, the Saints snuck into the double chance by flogging Essendon by 108 points effectively stealing fourth from Adelaide by 0.82%. Whereas the Bulldogs knew they would finish third and play Hawthorn by round18.
In the qualifying finals both the Saints and Bulldogs got flogged (Saints by 58 points against Geelong, and the Bulldogs by 51 points by Hawthorn)
The semi finals were also very similar results; the Bulldogs beat Sydney by 37points, whilst the Saints beat Collingwood by 34 points.
Both teams then played in the Preliminary finals … (Saints lost to Hawthorn by 54 points, and Dogs lost to Geelong by 29 points).
A very similar finals campaign …
The trade period saw St. Kilda take Farren Ray and pick #48 from us in return for pick #31. The Saints also picked up Tom Lynch (pick #13), Rhys Stanley (pick #47), Nicholas Heyne (pick #48), Alistair Smith (pick #62), Paul Cahill (pick # 73), and Colm Beagley (pick #83) … the only rookie draft of any note for the Saints was Zac Dawson.
Compared to The Bulldogs who picked up Ayce Cordy (pick #14 F/S), Jordan Roughhead (pick #31) and Liam Jones (pick #32) … the only rookie draft of any note for the Dogs was Liam Picken.
Now except for Farren Ray, who has bolstered St. Kilda’s half-back line, I cannot see significant differences in the either playing rosters from the 2008 season (that resulted in very similar finals campaigns) to the 2009 season (which has seen the Saints make it to the big dance) …
So my question is … What have the Saints done between the end of the 2008 season and now to win 5 more home and away matches than us; and more importantly make it to the last week in September ????