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Nine things we learned: The rock-bottom Saints need sweeping changes
A Power star is a Showdown specialist, the Giants need their star back to her best as soon as possible and more lessons from round eight
IN THIS week's Things We Learned, we discover the Saints are at a crossroads, George Prespakis is having another brilliant season and much, much more.
Check out what we learned from round eight of the 2026 season.
OK, so this is hardly breaking news. But the Saints hit a new low against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon, kicking their lowest ever score – and it was only by the skin of their teeth that they managed to score at all. Conditions, inexperience and fatigue certainly played a part, but the inability of the Saints to connect in any meaningful way across the course of four quarters is hugely concerning. This should be the rock bottom from which the club chooses to conduct a review similar to that of the Western Bulldogs, Carlton and Richmond before them, and make sweeping change. From the lack of true depth in the playing list to off-field roles, St Kilda needs to make its move before Tasmania comes in and takes all the fresh talent both on and off the field. – Gemma Bastiani
‘Story of next 12 months’: AFL club at ‘critical’ crossroads… with two big names’ futures uncertain
St Kilda “could be the story of the next 12 months” ahead of a defining 2027.
Both Saints senior coach Ross Lyon and superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera are due to come out of contract in a year the club will be hoping to make genuine inroads up the ladder.
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It comes after St Kilda fell short of expectations in 2026, missing finals despite a busy trade period where they splashed out on the likes of Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni.
This off-season looks more quiet, with trade negotiations that would send Rowan Marshall to Geelong the biggest order of business for St Kilda.
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After a historically bad Saints performance, it’s time for Dal Santo to go
If St Kilda want to have a successful AFLW program, they need to make several bold decisions. The first one should be parting with long-time senior coach Nick Dal Santo, whose position, after a winless season so far, is now untenable.
That was never more clear than on Saturday, when the Saints made history for all the wrong reasons.
During their clash against the Bulldogs in Ballarat, St Kilda booted just one point – the club’s lowest ever score and the equal-lowest in AFLW history. It was the lowest score kicked by any side since round 10, 2022.
The Saints’ singular behind, from Ashleigh Richards, came with 41 seconds to go in the final quarter; the 30-point margin could have been far greater, given the Bulldogs’ inaccuracy (3.13).
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