Alan Richardson has signed a deal which is set to make him just the fifth man to coach St Kilda in 100 games.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Richardson, 50, is already contracted for 2016, but as flagged by Fairfax Media on July 11, the Saints have been keen to secure his services and continue their rebuild under the former Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton and Port Adelaide assistant, and have re-signed him until the end of 2018.
The Saints won only four games in Richardson's first year in 2014, claiming the club's first wooden-spoon in 14 years. However their rapid improvement against the odds in 2015 has impressed club bosses enough for the former Collingwood defender to be locked in with at least 29 games still left to run on his deal.
St Kilda are 5-10 so far this year, placing them 13th on the ladder. Their percentage has shot from 60.8 per cent last season to 87.8 per cent in 2015.
The Saints' re-signing of Richardson follows the recent trend of clubs seeking to prevent coaches entering into the final year of their contracts. While nine other AFL coaches are due to come out of contract at the end of 2016, there has been speculation that Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, Greater Western Sydney's Leon Cameron and Collingwood's Nathan Buckley could all have their deals extended before the end of the year.
Essendon have also stated that they expect coach James Hird to be at the helm for the final year of his contract in 2016, while Paul Roos will lead Melbourne into the final season of his three-year stint before Simon Goodwin assumes the mantle.
West Coast's Adam Simpson, North Melbourne's Brad Scott, Richmond's Damien Hardwick and the Brisbane Lions' Justin Leppitsch are the other coaches whose deals run out at the end of next year.
Richardson was hired by St Kilda after coach of two years Scott Watters was sacked following a bizarre radio interview in November 2013. St Kilda were made to fight for Richardson after Port Adelaide chairman David Koch initially refused to let Richardson - the Power's then director of coaching - depart the club so late in the pre-season.
By the time Richardson was first signed by the Saints, the trade period had already been completed, the 2014 fixture had already been released, St Kilda had started pre-season training, and the national draft was only a week away.
Four of the Saints' five longest-serving coaches have served at the club during the last 25 years, however despite all taking St Kilda into the finals, none of Grant Thomas, Lyon, Stan Alves or Ken Sheldon coached beyond the conclusion of their fifth full season in charge.