With only one premiership in 151 years, the St Kilda AFL wrestlers are regarded as one of the worst teams in the history of Australian sport.
Now the furious fans have had enough.
After the club promised a new dawn by re-signing former coach Ross Lyon, who led the club to back-to-back grand finals in 2008 and 2009, the Saints showed some promise by sneaking into the AFL finals in 2023.
But the club suffered one of its worst defeats in memory on Thursday night, thrashed 19.10 (124) to 9.10 (64) by a Western Bulldogs team that has also struggled in 2024.
Only a kick from Cooper Sharman after the siren prevented it from being the toughest defeat the club has suffered against Lyon.
While the Saints have only played their sixth game of the season and still sit a respectable 12th in the standings and just one win outside the top eight, furious fans have seen enough.
Ross Lyon urged fans to stick with the Saints despite the terrible defeat, saying it was a one-off.
The Saints barely fired a shot in anger as the Bulldogs raced away to a big halftime lead and never managed to advance.
The now former St Kilda supporters showed their email to the club demanding they cancel their membership.
Outraged members are canceling their membership in the club, sharing evidence on social media and urging other fans to leave the club.
‘I have just sent an email this morning requesting the immediate termination of my membership in St Kilda. I strongly implore you to do the same,’ rages one supporter.
‘Don’t let the club keep spitting in your face while taking your money.
“I will consider registering as a new member when it is clear that the players, coaches and administration really respect the club and strive to improve.”
That fan wasn’t alone, as longtime members said they’d had enough after seeing players laughing and joking with their opponents after the big loss.
“I’ve been a fan of this club my whole life. 32 years. 32 years watching this club fall when things get tough,” one posted.
‘Tomorrow I will suspend payments on my St Kilda membership, if not cancel them completely.
“This club has shown time and time again that it does not respect its fans or its history, no matter how pathetic it may be. It does not respect its position in this competition.
‘Seeing our players laughing and joking after receiving the belt was embarrassing.
“If they can’t respect me, us fans, why should we show them respect?”
Another was furious that the club was constantly asking more from members and failing to deliver on the park.
‘I’m sick of the club sending me emails, texts and calls with more promotions and asking me for more shit. How about producing and giving something to us members? they published.
A fan renounced his support after 50 years supporting the club.
“It is a shame to say that I have supported the least accomplished club in the world,” they published.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t care if this club joined another club. The club is the biggest joke in the AFL, so I’m finished. Go North, that’s my team now.
’50 years of pure shit that St Kilda has given me. I’ve got ten years left, so go to Roos and fuck off, St Kilda.
While a number of fed up fans have given up on the Saints, the club recently reached 57,000 members and enjoys strong support.
St Kilda have a host of injured and suspended stars and will hope some of them, including striker Max King (pictured), will be available again soon.
There were many loyal fans criticizing the members for their actions, and one of the club’s biggest supporters called for calm.
‘I’ve been a member since before you were born. I’m seventy years old. I went last night and will be there next week in Adelaide. I’ve seen worse things than last night,’ she stated.
And Lyon have called for calm, hoping for a one-off performance as the club prepares for a tough game against Port Adelaide in the South.
“It’s interesting. There are always the commercial aspirations of your club and who represents you at that moment, and then there is the football agenda,” Lyon said after the match.
“It’s the demands of the game … and we’re a really honest team that’s trying to improve the ability, like the Bulldogs do, to chase those who have established themselves.”
“It’s not an excuse… but we’ll find out. We need to regenerate and move forward because we’re not playing the way we want.”