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St Kilda record lowest AFLW score as calls grow for Dal Santo's dismissal

Saints manage just one behind in Ballarat, extending winless start to the season

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
Sources3 outlets
St Kilda's AFLW team kicked its lowest ever score on Saturday, managing just a single behind against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat, a performance that has intensified calls for senior coach Nick Dal Santo to be replaced. Sports reporter Hannah Kennelly, writing for Nine newspapers, argues that Dal Santo's position is now untenable after the Saints' winless start to the season.

During the clash in Ballarat, St Kilda booted just one point, the club's lowest ever score and equal to the lowest in AFLW history. It was the lowest score kicked by any side since round 10, 2022. The Saints' singular behind, from Ashleigh Richards, came with 41 seconds left in the final quarter. The final margin was 30 points, but the Bulldogs' inaccuracy (3.13) meant it could have been far greater.

In an opinion piece published across multiple outlets, Kennelly wrote that if St Kilda want a successful AFLW program, they need to make bold decisions, starting with parting ways with long-time senior coach Nick Dal Santo, whose position after a winless season so far is now untenable.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The historic low score raises questions about the direction of St Kilda's AFLW program as the club endures a winless start to the season.
  • For AFLW as a competition, such lopsided results highlight competitive balance concerns, though the Bulldogs themselves were inaccurate.
  • The call for a coaching change puts pressure on the St Kilda board to decide whether to back or replace Dal Santo.

Background

St Kilda entered the AFLW competition in 2020 and has struggled to be competitive in recent seasons. The 2026 campaign has been particularly difficult, with the team yet to record a win. Saturday's performance in Ballarat set a new low for the club and matched the AFLW's all-time lowest score.

Key Perspectives

Supporters of Dal Santo: Those who favour continuity may argue that the team is in a rebuilding phase and that the coach requires time to develop younger players. No public statements defending Dal Santo have been reported. Critics of the coach: The opinion piece reflects a growing sentiment among observers that a change is necessary. The historically poor performance and the winless run are cited as evidence that the program is not progressing. The club: St Kilda has not publicly commented on Dal Santo's position following the match.

What to Watch

  • The club's official response to the growing calls for a coaching change.
  • St Kilda's performance in upcoming matches, particularly whether the team can avoid further low scores.
  • Potential board discussions about the future of the AFLW program.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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