 St Kilda entered the 2009 premiership season after having lost its preliminary final in 2008 against eventual premiers .The Saints' home-and-away season was outstanding and they won their first 19 games (the longest winning streak in the club's history) before losing consecutive close games in Rounds 20 and 21 against and .They won their final game and earned the McClelland Trophy for the first time since 1997.