JUDGING by the strength of last year's performances when they mattered most, St Kilda has much ground to make up before it can challenge the competition's heavyweights.

Thrashed by 58 points by Geelong in the qualifying final, a fortnight later the Saints were nursing another preliminary final exit when shown up by nine goals by eventual premier Hawthorn.

Aside from Geelong, only St Kilda can boast of making three preliminary finals in the past five years.

But Geelong's 2007 flag leaves St Kilda's cupboard – which contains only the 1966 premiership cup – all the more bare.

So the conventional wisdom is that the Saints must produce something remarkable to push past that penultimate weekend, let alone double the club's cup count.

We know captain Nick Riewoldt is a superstar, a game-turning forward who runs all day and marks like he has sticky hands.

And we know that the courageous Luke Ball and the smooth Lenny Hayes would command a place in every midfield in the competition, and that Sam Fisher is a great defender in an era dominated by rebounding half-backs.

But where does that shot in the arm come from?

Coach Ross Lyon does not dare to dream about what it would be like to become just the second man after Allan Jeans to earn a halo for life by leading the Saints to a premiership.

Entering his third season in charge, he is more focused on cracking a decent start to the campaign and securing another berth in the finals.

But Lyon is confident there is a promising forecast for those wondering where the surge in required improvement will come from.

"We've got a young core that we see significant improvement in," he said.

"(Leigh) Montagna, (Brendon) Goddard, (Sam) Gilbert, (Jason) Gram, Raph Clarke, Xavier Clarke, (Adam) Schneider, (David) Armitage...

"We've got a young core – (Nick) Dal Santo, (Justin) Koschitzke – we really see improvement in them and then obviously (Robert) Eddy is one and (James) Gwilt can improve.

"Then if the old hands can maintain their rating ..."

Although St Kilda turned well after a mediocre start last season and secured the double chance courtesy of an in-form defence and an improved attack, the finish left a sour taste.

But Lyon is keen to learn something from the finals drubbings if his side is to close the gap on the Hawks and Cats.

"We've still got a bit of work to do," he said.

"We've been trying to move our ball movement and kick a couple more goals a week and maintain our defensive rating. The second half of the year we were two and seven in defence and attack.

"We'd love to be top four in both.

"We've been working on moving the ball a bit quicker and scoring a little bit more."

The Saints' primary venue at Docklands, where they play 15 games in 2009, should at least assist in their aim to provide more firepower.

So too should the addition of Gilbert, who could become a handy foil in the forward line for Riewoldt and Koschitzke as marking targets.

Lyon has Gilbert swinging between ends, depending on match-ups and provided the group of key defenders of Max Hudghton, Fisher and Jason Blake stay fit.

The readymade insurance comes in the form of running defender Colm Begley, recruited from the Lions, ex-Hawthorn full-back Zac Dawson and midfielder Farren Ray, who was traded from the Western Bulldogs.

Two other causes for optimism are the returns of tagger Steven Baker, whose grunt was missed in 2008 when he was sidelined by suspension and knee troubles, and defender Matt Maguire, who has shown encouraging signs he has overcome his foot problems.

But 2009 already has a different feel for St Kilda, as it's the first season since champion midfielder Robert Harvey called it quits after a decorated 21-year career.

Although he was the club's spiritual backbone, Lyon said the onus was on Harvey's successors to forge their success.

"Robert left some magnificent footprints in the sand, so to speak, but eventually they all get blown away, don't they?" he said.

"The players here have got to take their opportunities and if we keep looking back we're in trouble."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.