So when a side that has made it to the grand final in each of the past two seasons suddenly finds itself in 13th spot six weeks into the year, fingers start to be pointed.
In many eyes, St Kilda's problems are attributed to three reasons - the off-field dramas of the past 18 months, the natural cycle of AFL teams moving up and down the ladder, and a lack of quality young players coming through the system.
Plenty has been written and said about the off-field matters and no doubt they would have been a drain, and the Saints' impressive sustained record over the past seven years is fair reason to assume that they are almost due for a lull.
But what of the next generation?
The common perception is that the Saints haven't drafted well recently, but their success has meant that they haven't been in a great position to get the best young players on board.
Granted, they haven't been able to enjoy Collingwood's success in bringing in young players who instantly find their places in the team. Nor have they managed to find a ready-made mature-aged player from one of the state leagues.
St Kilda has been criticised for not giving enough games to young players, but coach Ross Lyon has said repeatedly that players need to earn their selection.
That said, four players (Daniel Archer, Will Johnson, Alistair Smith and Jamie Cripps) have already made their debuts this season in a sign that the club is making a concerted effort to bring in younger players.
And players who have been on the fringes for a while are now settling in.
David Armitage is starting to finally shine in Lenny Hayes' absence after trying to consolidate a spot for several years, while Ben McEvoy is officially the No.1 ruckman as Michael Gardiner battles to overcome injury in what is likely to be his last season on the list.
The vital question is, who are the other young players who will carry the club through the next few years?
We have cast an eye over six players who now find themselves on the fringe and rank them according to how important they can be to St Kilda's future.
1: Rhys Stanley, 20, tall forward/ruck
The most promising of the current batch of youngsters. He came to notice twice before he made his senior debut; firstly for winning the 2009 Grand Final sprint and secondly for his impressive work in last year's NAB Cup. Stanley played seven matches last season and a further two this year without making any great impact. He is athletic and could be seen in the long term as a handy forward option who can relieve McEvoy in the ruck. It is not out of the question to see him jump ahead of some big-bodied senior Saints before too long.
2: Jack Steven, 21, midfielder/small forward
Along with Stanley and two other teammates, he was disciplined earlier this year for a transgression on a team trip to New Zealand. But Steven is one of the brightest young prospects on the Saints list. His three goals in a quarter in a clash with Geelong last year was the highlight of his career and he has been touted for greater things. Steven can find the footy and knows how to use it.
3: Jamie Cripps, 19, mid-sized utility
It has been a while since a St Kilda recruit received as many wraps as Cripps has over summer. Lyon is clearly a fan of his run and ability to use the ball by foot and praised him at every opportunity in the pre-season. He was unveiled in a cameo role against Adelaide last week and he bobbed up with two handy goals to keep his side in the game. A big future awaits.
4: Alistair Smith, 20, midfielder
Smith has played three of the Saints' five matched this season without starring. He showed plenty in the VFL last year, not only for his highly-publicised tagging job on Jason Akermanis - the former Bulldog described Smith as "a dribbler who can't play at all, who can't kick" - but also for another game in which he racked up more than 40 touches.
5: Nick Winmar, 20, mid-sized forward/defender
Agonisingly close to a senior debut after being named an emergency in four of the Saints' five games, Winmar seems a certainty to debut soon. He struggled with injury last year but has shown in his appearances with Sandringham that he can cut it at senior level. Winmar moves well and is exceptionally clean with his hands.
6: Tom Ledger, 19, midfielder
Ledger was another to make an impact in the NAB Cup. His zippy pace and crisp kicking stood out, drawing some comparisons to former Saint Austinn Jones. Still lightly framed, Ledger suffered a hamstring injury in the early part of the season that set him back slightly. He may not see a lot of senior action this season but is definitely set to be a big part of the future.
Luke Holmesby covers St Kilda news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
