What Is 2013 St Kilda Football Club season

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2013 St Kilda Football Club season was the club's 117th in the AFL, finishing 11th on the ladder with a 9–13 record under coach Scott Watters. They played home games at Etihad Stadium and missed finals for the third consecutive year.

Key Facts

St Kilda finished 11th in the 2013 AFL season with a 9–13 win-loss record
Coach Scott Watters led the team for the second consecutive season
Home games were played at Etihad Stadium due to ongoing renovations at Moorabbin
Star player Nick Riewoldt played 18 games despite ongoing shoulder injury issues
The club averaged 29,354 fans per home game during the season

Overview

The 2013 St Kilda Football Club season marked the club’s 117th season in the Australian Football League (AFL). Competing under senior coach Scott Watters, the team struggled with consistency and finished 11th on the ladder with a 9–13 win–loss record, missing the finals for the third consecutive year.

Despite a promising start to the season, including a strong 6–2 beginning, St Kilda faltered in the second half of the year. The club continued to play home games at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne due to ongoing redevelopment at their traditional base, Moorabbin Oval, affecting fan engagement and home-ground advantage.

Final ladder position: St Kilda finished 11th out of 18 teams with 9 wins and 13 losses, narrowly missing the top eight.
Home ground: All 11 home matches were held at Etihad Stadium, averaging 29,354 fans per game, down from previous years.
Coaching leadership:Scott Watters remained head coach for his second season, facing criticism over team selection and game strategy.
Key player: Captain Nick Riewoldt played 18 games but was hampered by a chronic shoulder injury requiring off-season surgery.
Recruitment: Rookie-listed Jack Billings debuted in Round 5 and showed promise, finishing with 15 goals across 16 games.

How It Works

The 2013 season operated under standard AFL competition rules, including a 22-round home-and-away season followed by a finals series for the top eight teams. St Kilda’s campaign was defined by structural changes, player development, and transitional strategies aimed at rebuilding the list.

Season structure: The AFL season consisted of 22 rounds, with each team playing 11 home and 11 away games before the top eight advanced to finals.
Salary cap: St Kilda operated under the $10.06 million soft salary cap, using strategic list management to retain young talent and draft picks.
Coaching model: Watters employed a committee-based approach with assistants to improve decision-making, though results remained inconsistent.
Injury management: The club’s medical team monitored chronic injuries like Riewoldt’s shoulder and Dylan Roberton’s back issues to optimize player availability.
Player development: The Next Generation Academy program supported emerging talent, including mid-season draftee Tim Membrey, who debuted in Round 18.
Game-day operations: Matches at Etihad Stadium required coordination with venue staff, impacting pre-game routines and crowd logistics.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of St Kilda’s 2013 season against key rivals and the league average across critical performance metrics.

Team	Wins	Points Scored	Points Conceded	Average Attendance
St Kilda	9	1,489	1,652	29,354
Fremantle	13	1,601	1,355	38,111
Port Adelaide	11	1,587	1,512	31,548
Carlton	11	1,620	1,598	47,020
League Average	11	1,560	1,560	34,500

The table highlights that while St Kilda’s win total was below average, their defensive record was among the worst in the league, conceding 1,652 points—63 more than the league average. Offensively, they scored only 1,489 points, reflecting struggles in forward efficiency. Attendance figures also lagged, partly due to the neutral Etihad Stadium location.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a pivotal transitional year that shaped St Kilda’s future direction, emphasizing youth development and long-term planning over immediate success. It underscored the challenges of rebuilding while maintaining fan support and on-field competitiveness.

Rebuilding phase: The club prioritized draft picks and young players, trading veterans to accumulate future assets.
Coaching changes: Poor results led to Scott Watters’ dismissal at season’s end, paving the way for Alan Richardson in 2014.
Stadium uncertainty: Continued use of Etihad Stadium fueled debate about the need for a permanent home ground at Moorabbin.
Player development: Emerging talents like Dougal Howard and Dylan Roberton gained crucial experience that benefited future seasons.
Financial impact: Lower attendance and lack of finals revenue affected club finances, influencing list and marketing strategies.
Fan engagement: The club launched digital initiatives to maintain supporter interest during a losing season.

Ultimately, the 2013 season served as a foundation for cultural and structural change, setting the stage for a more sustainable model in the years to come.