No one tipped St Kilda to make the finals in 2023 but a topsy-turvy season saw the Saints squeeze in.
However, their return to post-season didn't end as hoped and questions must be asked about the future of the list.
Letter Grade: B+
The Sporting News analyses St Kilda's 2023 campaign.
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Did the Saints over/under achieve in 2023?
Despite Ross Lyon coming back for a second stint, no one expected the Saints to be anywhere near finals in 2023.
St Kilda entered round one with 14 injured players including Max King, Tim Membrey, Seb Ross, Jack Billings, Zac Jones, Nick Coffield and Jack Hayes.
But the Saints defied the odds to win six of their first eight games to set their season up.
The campaign ended in disappointment with a convincing finals loss to GWS, but it was a great effort to reach post-season.
Can they get back there in 2024?
What worked?
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Lyon had an immediate impact shaping St Kilda's defence into the 'tightest' in the competition across the home and away season.
The Saints only conceded 71.6 points a game through the season, which was no.1 in the AFL.
Callum Wilkie was rewarded as All-Australian full-back, while Jack Sinclair received his second blazer.
However, they did concede 100-plus points in their elimination final, which will be a source of huge disappointment.
What went wrong?
A stingy defence masked a misfiring attack with the Saints scoring just 77.2 points a game, which ranked 15th in the league.
But the biggest issue was in converting inside 50's to scores, with St Kilda ranked last in the competition (39.7 per cent), with the eighth-lowest percentage in AFL history.
Max King is a good player but not yet a great one, with the big forward having injury issues and also lacking work rate at times.
Small forwards Jack Higgins (36 goals) and Dan Butler (33 goals) had career-best years on the scoreboard, but the Saints need to find more in the forward half.
St Kilda best player
Sinclair was already in the elite players in the competition but his legend grew in 2023 as he earned a second consecutive All-Australian blazer.
The Saint was predominantly used off half-back but also was used in bursts through the midfield when the Saints were struggling.
His ability to spot up a target coming out of defence and break the lines was crucial to the Saints' success.
Who should St Kilda target in AFL trade period?
The Saints have promised to be active during the trade period and it looks as if Liam Henry will be joining the club for 2024.
Henry will bring some much needed pace and quality disposal to the wing but they need more quality through the engine room.
Paddy Dow has also been mentioned as an option with opportunities limited at Carlton.
