If we were to identify a turning point in St Kilda's fortunes over the past few years - a time of generally unparalleled consistency and good news for the underachieving club - it came after 20 minutes of the Grand Final replay on October 2.

For, at that moment - just as the Saints were beginning to work their way back into a game that was threatening to get away from them - the ball was shunted along the southern wing where Leigh Montagna got a handball away to the little No.13, Adam Schneider, who took possession at half-forward.

Under pressure, the natural left-footer sent a right-foot pass floating towards captain Nick Riewoldt, whom he had spied unattended in the goal square.

Riewoldt duly took the mark but then, in attempt to make a grand statement by roosting the ball high into the third tier behind the Punt Rd goals, took a split-second longer than he needed to swing his big leg back. In that nano-moment, Heath Shaw stole in on Riewoldt's blind side, dived full length in front of the Saints captain and, in trying to spoil, dislodged the ball from his hands.

For all their 20 minutes of dominance, Collingwood led by just 14 points - 2.2 to 0.0. Here was a golden chance for St Kilda's talisman and leader to put the Saints back in the game, right in front of the largest bloc of red, white and black fans. The stage was all set, spotlight trained on the main character.

Yet he blew it. The ball rolled through for a behind. The Collingwood supporters roared in delight and derision. Riewoldt hung his head. The die was cast.

For he knew, as we all did, what a significant moment we'd witnessed. The St Kilda challenge - save for some pluckiness either side of half-time - was effectively over.

And, as surely as a balloon that had been sat on, the air just fizzled out of their challenge.  

Since that day, what has happened?

Well there's been the nude photo scandal on the Saints' end-of-season trip, and the ensuing fallout with the troubled teenager who chose to post the photos on the internet, which must be tugging at the close-knit fabric of the playing group. 

Then there was the players' muck-up with sleeping pills in New Zealand last month.

Then there was Riewoldt's unbelievable speech at the Saints' AGM where he said dark forces outside the club were conspiring to bring them down, without mentioning the lame-brains within the club who've done a much better job of wrecking the place.   

It smacked of a siege mentality at St Kilda and a club leadership that was cracking under the strain.

And we learned this week that the day after the first, drawn Grand Final, as the Saints players licked their wounds at a St Kilda restaurant, that Riewoldt told a woman who was with her 13-year-old daughter to f*** off, and gestured at her with his finger. The woman had taken a photo of the players with a digital camera, which might have been unwise, but hardly warranted that sort of treatment. Riewoldt has since called to apologise.

So Ross Lyon's excellent work of the past three years, in which he has helped the club regain its self-respect, work ethic and team unity, is now imperilled. Will scandal again become St Kilda's brand? It'll take all his man-management skills and diplomacy to get the club back on course.

And to think it was all going so swimmingly till that point four months and seven days ago when big Nick drew his right leg back and set himself for glory in the goalsquare.