The Saints splashed the cash in the 2025 off-season, signing Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Liam Ryan and Sam Flanders to the club, but the team hasn’t quite lived up the high expectations placed on them throughout the pre-season.

Having only won five from 12 games this year, questions are starting to be raised about whether those big-money moves were worth it.

But are the Saints really going as bad as what some pundits are thinking?

North Melbourne legend David King is of the belief that St Kilda is slowly gelling together in the right direction.

Based off the statistics, King explained how the young St Kilda core, particularly in their midfield, are improving year on year, placing the Saints in good stead for future seasons.

“I'll give you some evidence of what's happened over the last 18 months,” King started on SEN’s Fireball.

“Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in 2024 was ranked the 84th (best) AFL player, then went to 11th last year. He sits 14th at the moment, so that's tracking beautifully for 2028 – I’m looking at 2028.

“Max Hall is now a top 40 player in the competition.

“Hugo Garcia's gone from being the 260 odd (ranked player) last year to 54 (this year), prior to last game.

“Darcy Wilson over the last six weeks is in the top 50 AFL players.

“And (Mattaes) Phillipou was outside of the top 200 and is now around the top 120 odd.

“I think there's enough there to suggest that this midfield group, if they can keep them together – Wilson’s a watch with his contractual status – but if they can keep this group together, I think in 40 or so games, they do get an opportunity.

“It's a step (forward), isn't it? Aren't there some steps you've got to take in the AFL system?

“Their midfield's improved. Those guys I just mentioned have all improved.”

King continued by stating that he never expected St Kilda to contend for the flag this season, knowing that they are still a fair way off being able to regularly defeat top four or top six teams.

Rather, the ex-Roo explained how the Saints are a developing squad that needs time, much like how the Lions did when they recruited Joe Daniher.

“I didn't expect them to be a contender this year,” continued King.

“I think the teams that are around the mark that St Kilda are at really find it hard to beat top four, top six teams.

“The next progression is you win one out of every three, and then you win one out of every two, and then you're in the hunt.

“I think they're miles from that. I never thought they were a flag contender this year, I've never had them in the top four to six teams.

“So, they are where they are right now because they're just not quite there.

“(Callum) Wilkie needs help down back, there's no doubt about that, there's a hole there.

“And I don't know if we can even keep talking about Max King because we haven't seen him for so long in this team.

“But their forward line has functioned against the poorer teams, but when they play the good ones, they're in a bit of strife.

“Ross (Lyon) said that (after the Hawthorn game), ‘We're going through the grades.’ They can beat teams that are around them and below them, but they can't beat the teams that are notionally above them at the moment. That's where they're at.

“You look at Brisbane when they went and got Joe Daniher, it takes time for those guys to embed (into the system), feel comfortable, be supported and build relationships. Groups play together.”

With King confident that St Kilda are moving in the right direction for future seasons, only time will tell if the Saints can become a premiership contender.