If St Kilda want to have a successful AFLW program, they need to make several bold decisions.
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they → want → 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.
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position → part → season
That was never more clear than on Saturday, when the Saints made history for all the wrong reasons.
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Saints → make → 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.
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Kilda → boot → history
It was the lowest score kicked by any side since round 10, 2022.
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It → kick → round
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).
It was the Saints’ eighth consecutive loss in a winless season.
The alarm bells are sounding for Dal Santo, whose contract finishes at the end of 2026.
He spoke after the loss, where he was defensive about his team’s performance, citing poor conditions, an extensive injury list and inexperience, though he admitted the team “did not use the ball very well”.
“I think we are all frustrated, that’s not how we planned on today going,” he said.
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he → come → ball
“I thought we looked a little bit tired today, but maybe rightly so when we had two days less and had to travel twice.”
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we → think → days
Dal Santo is fair to highlight St Kilda’s injury list, and development of young players.
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Santo → highlight → players
The club has 11 on its injury list, and also debuted five new players within the first five games.
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club → have → games
The Saints also parted with several players last year, including veteran defender Nicola Stevens, who went to Geelong.
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who → part → Geelong
There’s also been a change of leadership, with Hannah Priest, who is pregnant, stepping down from the captaincy after six years at the helm.
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who → step → helm
However, the Saints had an extensive injury list in 2025 and were still able to execute some remarkable performances, including an epic last-quarter comeback against Port Adelaide, overcoming the biggest three-quarter-time margin in AFLW history.
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Saints → have → history
The Saints also fought their way into the top eight to secure their maiden finals appearance – a long-awaited milestone since the club entered the competition in 2020.
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club → fight → 2020
They have gone backwards.
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They → go → ?
Yes, they had a tough opening draw, facing last year’s preliminary finalists Carlton followed by Geelong and then Sydney.
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they → have → Geelong
Their painful 92-point loss to reigning premiers North Melbourne stung, but was not unexpected.
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loss → reign → Melbourne
While disappointed with the start of the season, St Kilda players and staff were confident that their next opponents, lower-ranked Richmond and West Coast, were gettable.
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opponents → disappoint → season
St Kilda aren’t alone in having disappointing seasons.
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Kilda → have → seasons
Both Essendon and Collingwood opened the season with a string of losses, though the Magpies finally won their first game last week and the Bombers followed with a victory this week.
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Bombers → open → victory
What’s troubling about St Kilda isn’t just the eight consecutive losses – it’s the way the team is losing.
This season, they have consistently failed to hit the scoreboard.
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they → ’ → scoreboard
They look sluggish and uncertain, struggling in contested situations and handing the ball back to their opponents under pressure.
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They → look → pressure
During the press conference after this week’s loss, Dal Santo rightfully highlighted that it wasn’t fair to “isolate one game” but rather look at a greater body of work.
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it → highlight → work
But a professional AFLW team only scoring one point in a game is concerning.
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scoring → score → game
Many people contacted for the piece declined to comment or did not respond, while others expressed apprehension about speaking negatively about the women’s program.
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others → contact → program
In fairness, AFLW coaches have less time with players, shorter seasons and less resources.
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coaches → have → players
AFLW is not AFL – the women’s competition has different strengths and appeals and should be treated differently.
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competition → have → strengths
However, if St Kilda’s men’s team were performing like this, the scrutiny would be intense.
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scrutiny → perform → this
If AFLW is to continue to grow and be taken seriously, we must analyse it thoroughly and critically.
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we → continue → it
St Kilda players are strongly supportive of Dal Santo, but the time has come to make changes.
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time → come → changes
Aside from moving on Dal Santo, their next coach should be hired in a full-time role.
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coach → move → role
Carlton initiated a comprehensive independent review into their AFLW program after a period of poor performance, leading to the departure of coaches and key staff.
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Carlton → initiate → coaches
Since then, the Blues have surged, playing in the finals last year (and will likely do the same this year).
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Blues → surge → same
St Kilda could learn from that.
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Kilda → learn → that
The Saints did not wish to comment when contacted by this masthead.
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Saints → wish → masthead
The Aporia
