St Kilda Saints’ Andrew Bassat Drives Off‑Season Recruiting Surge for 2026 Season

February 3, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Okay,here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from the provided text,focusing on st Kilda’s current situation and outlook for the 2026 season:

1. Major List Turnover & Rebuild:

* St Kilda has undergone a massive list overhaul. Only 19 players remain from the 2023 team.
* They’ve brought in a lot of new players (second most in the league after North Melbourne) through the draft, largely thanks to the work of chris Toce and Simon Dalrymple.
* A significant portion of their 2022 best and fairest players have departed (6 out of 10), a similar number to West Coast, but unlike Collingwood who have retained all of their 2022 top 10.

2.lyon’s Influence & List Management Philosophy:

* Ross Lyon’s influence extends to list management, but the club is prioritizing long-term sustainability over speedy fixes.
* Bassat emphasizes that Lyon hasn’t pushed for short-term gains by chasing available players. He’s advocated for sticking to the draft plan.
* There’s a healthy debate within the club regarding list decisions, wiht Lyon having a strong voice but not dominating the process.

3. Age Profile & Experience:

* The Saints have shifted from being one of the oldest teams to a younger profile. They were 14th in average age in 2025 and are projected to be 10th in 2026.
* They have a core of 12 established players with 50-100 games of experience.

4. Key Questions for 2026:

* start to Games: Can they improve their slow starts (trailing at quarter-time in 10 of their last 11 games)?
* Midfield Resilience: Can they stop momentum swings when the game turns against them?
* Defensive Strength: Can they become more defensively solid (currently 13th for points against)?
* Sustained Energy: Can they maintain a high level of effort and commitment through the demanding process of advancement?

5.Lyon’s Past & Current Challenge:

* Lyon has a history of taking St Kilda close to premierships (2009, 2010) but falling short against teams with strong legacies (father-son players).
* He now faces an even tougher challenge due to the expansion of the league (more teams competing for talent).

In essence, the article paints a picture of St Kilda as a team in the midst of a significant rebuild, guided by a long-term vision and Ross Lyon’s coaching expertise. The 2026 season will be a crucial test of whether their strategy is paying off and if they can address their key weaknesses.