Though their AFL aspirations lie in the here and now, both St Kilda and Richmond believe their best football is yet to come.
Going into a mid-season finals shaper at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, both teams are coming off convincing wins over top-eight sides last weekend.
Both have excellent midfields, sizzling run-and-carry, and key forwards in St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt and his cousin, Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt, who can kick bagfuls of goals.
Both have offered proof in recent weeks they can go with the competition’s best teams.
And both believe they have plenty of improvement left – though whether that manifests itself in time to play finals this season will perhaps be answered Friday night.
St Kilda coach Scott Watters has been thrilled with his side’s recent performances and the players’ ability to rise to the challenges he sets.
“We think our best footy’s somewhere out there in front of us,” Watters said on Thursday.
“We’ve got some key players who will come back over the next month, and we’ve got some young players who are still developing and growing.
“Players pray for these opportunities (the clash with Richmond). Our players can’t wait for the challenge.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believes much will be revealed about his side’s finals chances against the Saints.
With most pundits believing 13 wins will be the minimum needed to make the finals in the expanded competition, Richmond would need to build quickly on their 4-5 record as a tough early season draw relents.
Having proved themselves in pushing Collingwood, Geelong and West Coast before beating Sydney, then battering Hawthorn last weekend by 62 points, Hardwick believes his side is growing in big-match temperament.
“The guys are starting to come to the fore in big games,” Hardwick said.
“We’ve been fortunate to play in a few over the past couple of weeks and we’ve been going okay.
“But the reality of the situation is we want to be 5-5 after 10 rounds and St Kilda similar. We’ve got our work cut out for us trying to get the result we’re after.”
St Kilda defender Jarryn Geary will miss the match after suffering a a facial fracture in the win over Sydney last weekend, with Jack Newnes his replacement.
Richmond recall defender Jake Batchelor after injury, with Matt Dea omitted.
