Stevo's Sting: Saints must win danger game against Suns

It wouldn't have taken long for elation to turn to trepidation.

St Kilda fans are hardy, loyal, but also have every reason to be pessimistic given the decades of heartbreak.

And all those traits would have bubbled to the surface after a quick glance at the fixture.

The Saints are suddenly 6-7 after ambushing Geelong and face Gold Coast this week.

The Suns have lost 10 in a row, but the game is away, and Rocket Eade's mob had a real crack against Hawthorn.

There are also real signs Gary Ablett is back.

St Kilda's record on the road this year is poor.

It spells DANGER.

The Saints are a better team than the Suns right now, with more depth across the park and a more settled structure, but this is a contest that could easily go pear shaped.

The crowd will be small, but this is big.

At 7-7, the Saints will be genuinely in the mix. No excuses, they must deliver.

Given a 50/50 win/loss record would give the Saints at least a silly finals chance, this is the most important game of coach Alan Richardson's tenure.

Watching a team develop is nice, and one Saints talkback caller this morning said the team isn't ready for finals, but that's rubbish. Try telling "Rooey" and "Joey" that.

St Kilda must raise the bar and push for finals now. Sometimes you are ready before you think you are.

And to do that, they must find the maturity and poise to go north and get the job done. It is a non-negotiable, for a loss would strip so much credibility away following the Geelong triumph.

At 6-8, it's all over, but 7-7 is not a bad launching pad given the fixture looming.

Following the Suns, the Saints have Essendon and Melbourne at Etihad. The Bombers are a gimme, so is Melbourne given the venue.

The Dogs and Kangas at Etihad will be tough in the following weeks, but if the Saints are flying at 9-7, who knows?

There is so much to like about the Saints, Paddy McCartin's hands and courage probably top of the list, but it's time to drop the development talk and deliver a string of wins.

The pressure early against the Cats was elite, and bring that against the Suns and another win is within grasp.

Let's just hope for all Saints' fans that the playing group isn't content with that.

This Suns game, one with a real whiff of danger given the letdown factor, is huge.

The Saints can't afford to quietly disappear from the finals race just yet.

It has been accepted in recent years.

Not now. They are better than that.