St Kilda Coach Hopes Upset Can Spark a Saints Revival St Kilda coach Brett Ratten is hoping that Saturday’s upset win over the Western Bulldogs can serve as a catalyst for a revival of the struggling club. The Saints have endured a tough few years, finishing 15th in the past two seasons. However, Ratten believes that the upset win over the Bulldogs, who were one of the premiership favorites, can give his team the belief to turn things around. “It was a great win for us,” Ratten said after the match. “We’ve been working hard all year and it’s nice to finally get some reward for our efforts. Hopefully, this can be the start of something special.” The Saints were led by a dominant performance from ruckman Rowan Marshall, who had 26 disposals, 20 hit-outs and two goals. Jack Steele was also outstanding, collecting 33 disposals and laying nine tackles. “We had a really good plan for the game and the players executed it perfectly,” Ratten said. “We were able to control the game for long periods and that made it really tough for the Bulldogs.” The win over the Bulldogs was St Kilda’s first since Round 9 and lifted them off the bottom of the ladder. Ratten hopes that the upset can give his team the confidence to start climbing up the table. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but this win gives us something to build on,” Ratten said. “We’ve shown that we can compete with the best teams in the competition and that’s something that we can take a lot of confidence from.” St Kilda will face another tough test next week when they take on the Melbourne Demons at the MCG. However, Ratten is confident that his team can continue to improve and make a run at the finals. “We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves,” Ratten said. “We know that we’ve still got a long way to go, but we’re on the right track. We’re going to keep working hard and see where it takes us.”Last weekend, St Kilda upset ladder leaders Sydney in a thrilling match, improving their record to 6-10. This significant home victory has left coach Ross Lyon hopeful that it will serve as a turning point in the team’s development.Last weekend, St Kilda upset ladder leaders Sydney in a thrilling match, improving their record to 6-10. This significant home victory has left coach Ross Lyon hopeful that it will serve as a turning point in the team’s development. Despite a disappointing 2024 season thus far, Lyon believes the win will be a catalyst for improvement, similar to certain victories with Fremantle and St Kilda in the past. Those wins ignited his teams, turning them into premiership contenders. Lyon noted the players’ strong character and resilience, traits he wants to be synonymous with the team. He praised their ability to fight back from a 30-point deficit, demonstrating the determination they aim to embody. The team’s recent performances have improved, with competitive showings against Brisbane and Port Adelaide. Lyon emphasized the importance of continuing this consistent level of play, highlighting the team’s improved defense and forward movement. The challenge ahead lies in reproducing these performances consistently, particularly in the upcoming match against Adelaide. Lyon acknowledges the difficulty of these away games but views it as an opportunity for his team to showcase their newfound resolve and establish themselves as a formidable opponent.St Kilda coach Brett Ratten is hoping Saturday’s upset win over Richmond can spark a revival for the Saints. Ratten said the victory was a “massive result” for his young team, who had lost their first six games of the season. “It’s a great feeling to get a win and it’s even better to get it against a quality side like Richmond,” Ratten said. “We’ve been working hard all year and we’ve been close in a few games, so it’s good to finally get the reward.” The Saints will now look to build on their win when they take on Carlton at Marvel Stadium next Saturday. “We know Carlton are a good side, but we’re confident we can match it with them,” Ratten said. “We’ve got a lot of young players who are starting to find their feet and we’re starting to gel as a team. “We’re looking forward to the challenge and we’re hoping to make it two wins in a row.”