Collingwood have been in preliminary finals three times in Craig McRae’s four years as coach, winning the 2023 premiership, while the Saints have finished 12th twice, eighth and 10th over those seasons, seemingly mired in a pit of mediocrity.

Yet, the Saints are marginally favoured on Sunday night when they “host” Collingwood at the MCG in a game that might bust the club’s record for a home-and-away attendance of 81,386, also against the Magpies in the 2010 season, which was the year of St Kilda’s last grand final appearance(s) in Ross Lyon’s first coming as coach.

After a series of big moves in 2025, St Kilda are firmly in the spotlight in 2026. From left are president Andrew Bassat, star recruit Tom De Koning, and coach Ross Lyon.Credit: Artwork: Michael Howard

While the Pies aren’t as fancied as they were in 2025 – time’s winged chariot is hurrying near the competition’s oldest team – the market’s bullish view of the Saints is based heavily on the four recruits they have extracted from rival clubs, at a cost close to $4 million.

On Sunday night, Tom De Koning, Sam Flanders, Jack Silvagni and Liam Ryan will have their first outings as Saints, following an October splurge that shook the competition, attracting a measure of scorn from their competitors, who saw the dollars forked out as reckless and inflationary. Lions coach Chris Fagan and the Saints exchanged barbs on the subject of concessions and player payments.

St Kilda’s leadership argued that a club in their position simply had to take risks to put themselves in the contention ring.

“There is no risk-free path to a premiership,” Saints president Andrew Bassat told the club’s members. “The risks we have taken have been considered and deliberate. Doing nothing represents the greatest risk of all in what has become a two-speed competition.”

St Kilda’s strategy had been to prioritise young talent located in the draft, saving their enormous salary cap space until they were ready to rumble.

Are they buying a stairway to heaven? Maybe.

© Brisbane Times