Getting games into St Kilda’s youth with the intention of winning games in both the short and long-term is front of mind in Ross Lyon’s mind as he and the Saints continue to juggle an important “dual-narrative” throughout 2024.

The first part of that statement has been true with the Saints introducing four teenage debutants this season and continuing to build up the football résumés of Mattaes Phillipou, Marcus Windhager, Mitch Owens and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who are all still under 21 years of age with the latter trio nearing 50 games apiece. However the winning component has been elusive over the past few weeks, and proved so again last night against Port Adelaide.

Outside of last week’s 60-point loss at the hands of the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda’s losses this season have come in at 10 points or under: Geelong by eight points, Essendon by three, GWS by one following on from Friday’s 10-point loss to the Power which puts the ledger at 2-5.

The final discrepancies themselves may be small on the scoreboard, however it’s those marginal differences across the board which Lyon believes will be bridged in time as he pumps more games into the Saints’ youth.