Simon Hill

This is prior to last night.

Darcy Wilson over the last six weeks is in the top 50 AFL players.

And Philippou was outside of the top 200, is now around the top 120-odd.

Now, he didn't have a great night last night.

But I think there's enough there to suggest that this midfield group, if they can keep them together, and Wilson's a watch with his contractual status, if they can keep this group together, I think in 40 or so games, they do get an opportunity.

Well, you're always building, aren't you?

I didn't expect them to be a contender this year.

Did you?

So it's a step, isn't it?

Aren't there some steps you've got to take in the AFL system?

Those guys I just mentioned.

Well, at the end, it's win-loss, right?

No doubt.

But I think the teams that are around the mark that St Kilda are at really find it hard to beat top four, top six teams.

They do.

And then the next progression is you win one out of every three, and then you win one out of every two, and you're in the hunt.

I think they're miles from that.

I never thought they were a flag contender this year.

I never had them in the top four to six teams.

So they are where they are because they're just not quite there.