St Kilda failed to replicate 2023 and missed the finals last season by two wins and percentages.
Pundits are tipping the Saints for the bottom four in 2025, with several injury concerns heading into the campaign.
Can Ross Lyon pull a rabbit out of a hat and lift St Kilda up the ladder?
The Sporting News looks at the Saints' best starting lineup for the upcoming season.
MORE: AFL practice matches 2025: Fixture, results, scores for pre-season Community Series
St Kilda Saints best 22 for 2025 AFL season
| FB | Jimmy Webster | Callum Wilkie | Arie Schoenmaker |
| HB | Jack Sinclair | Dougal Howard | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera |
| C | Mason Wood | Jack Steele | Darcy Wilson |
| HF | Liam Henry | Max King | Brad Hill |
| FF | Jack Higgins | Cooper Sharman | Mitch Owens |
| R | Rowan Marshall | Mattaes Phillipou | Jack Macrae |
| Interchange | Anthony Caminiti | Marcus Windhager | Hugo Garcia |
| Hunter Clark | |||
| SUB | Dan Butler |
Analysis
The Saints best 22 can compete with most teams on their day but several players are under an injury cloud to start the season.
Mattaes Phillipou and Dougal Howard will miss the start of the season, while Rowan Marshall, Max King, Jack Sinclair and Mason Wood are all question marks.
This will allow plenty of opportunity to players wanting to step into the best 22.
The main uncertainty around the Saints team is in defence after Josh Battle's departure to Hawthorn.
Can Arie Schoenmaker fill the breach? Will Anthony Caminiti move to defence? Or will they have to use Zaine Cordy?
St Kilda will need King to have a big season in attack, while Cooper Sharman showed promise as a forward late last season.
Jack Macrae should be parachuted straight into a midfield group that struggled collectively in 2024.
Keep an eye on Hugo Garcia - has the potential to be a roughie in the Rising Star award.
Notable players to miss out
Zak Jones, Ryan Byrnes, Liam Stocker, Paddy Dow, Zaine Cordy, Angus Hastie, Jack Carroll
When does the 2025 AFL season start?
The 2025 AFL season will begin on Thursday, March 6 with a blockbuster between premiers Brisbane and Geelong at the Gabba.
This match will be the first of four in the 'Opening Round', which sees the AFL teams in the eastern seaboard states host the first games of the season.
Round 1 will feature the traditional 'season opener' between Carlton and Richmond on Thursday, March 13 at the MCG.