YESTERDAY St Kilda won a fourth match in a row for the first time in its AFL Women’s history by defeating GWS.

Yesterday’s win caps off a month of a complete 180 for St Kilda. In the first three weeks of the season the Saints were winless, and looking in real strife. But in the last month they have turned things around and are on a strong winning run that has put them back in contention to play finals for the first time.

Perhaps the degree of difficulty of the opponent played a part (playing North, Essendon and Port compared to playing Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and GWS) but in a short season like AFLW you have to win every game no matter the opponent in front of you.

With that in mind, we take a look at the stats and see where things have turned around for the Saints.

Disposals

To put it plain and simple, the Saints are winning more of the ball. Their averages for the last month in overall disposals (215.5), kicks (138.25) and handballs (77.25) have also risen from where they were for the first three rounds (202.67, 131.33 and 71.33 respectively).

They are also conceding less disposals to their opponents at the moment. In the last month the Saints have conceded on average 13 less disposals than they did in the first three rounds of the season.

Inside 50 Efficiency

One of the biggest areas of improvement the Saints have made in the last month has been in their inside 50 efficiency. Back in Rounds 1 to 3, their average inside 50 efficiency was only 31.8 per cent. In the last month that has risen to an average of 54.73 per cent.

Hitouts and Clearances

Another significant area of improvement for the Saints has been around hitouts and clearances.

In the first three rounds, the Saints were averaging 24.3 hit outs, 24 clearances, 3.6 centre clearances and 20.3 stoppage clearances.

The last month has seen St Kilda’s average in all four of those stats rise, to 36.75 hit outs, 29.75 clearances, 6.5 centre clearances and 23.25 stoppage clearances.

Improvements to come

Unfortunately not everything has improved in the last month for the Saints, but they do not take away from what the Saints have improved. They are averaging roughly two more turnovers a game and roughly two less overall and contested marks per game.