Following the 2022 AFL season, St. Kilda somewhat unexpectedly returned to Ross Lyon as their coach, who took them to two Grand Finals (three counting a replay) before leaving the Saints for Fremantle. So far the results have been impressive. Despite missing their captain Jack Steele and two leading goalkickers from 2022 Max King and Tim Membrey the Saints are undefeated from their four matches in 2023, with a percentage of 160.4. Two of those wins came against 2022 finalists Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs.
Lyon is well-known for his defensive mindset to winning games. But even then no-one could have predicted the extent to which the Saints have restricted opponents from scoring in 2023. They have allowed 60 less points than any other team across their four matches, conceding only 57 points per game, more than 20 less points on average than last season (see table below). Remarkably their opponents are still getting about the same number of inside 50 entries (although 50 inside 50s against per game are still relatively low across the league). The Saints however are conceding just 1.13 points per opponent inside 50 – of the 17 other teams only Carlton and Richmond are below 1.5. They are also conceding just 0.4 points per opponent contested possession – nobody else is below 0.49. That is, it is not so much St. Kilda’s ability to win the ball that has got them off to a fast start; it is their ability to contain the other team when they have it.
In their 2009 and 2010 seasons the Saints were also the best or near it for points conceded per opposition inside 50, although at a somewhat higher rate of 1.5-1.6 given higher scoring across the league back then. It is unlikely they can keep restricting opponents quite this much. However, it is definitely conceivable based on what we have seen so far that they could end up the best team over the season for it – time will tell if it brings them another run deep into the finals.
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