St Kilda captain Jack Steele is cautiously optimistic something special is building at the AFL club this season.
The Saints are flying on the back of three straight wins, which have fuelled confidence within the playing group ahead of Saturday's meeting with Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.
It comes as they seek to fulfil the prophecy offered by club president Andrew Bassat during a poor run last year that 2022 is when their premiership window will open.
St Kilda's only flag came 56 years ago and Melbourne's success last year left the Saints with the competition's longest drought.
"We're definitely building a lot of belief and trust within the group, we've just got to keep the ball rolling from here," Steele said.
"We've had a couple of good weeks in a row and we all can think towards the end of the year.
"But we've already been told by Ratts (coach Brett Ratten) after the win yesterday we've just need to focus on what's next.
"That's getting our bodies right and preparing for Gold Coast this week."
St Kilda have been the competition's highest-scoring team over the first four rounds and kicked their biggest tally in four seasons under Ratten during Sunday's thumping of Hawthorn.
Their wide array of scoring options was on show when fit-again Jade Gresham and versatile speedster Brad Hill joined key targets Max King and Tim Membrey in kicking four goals apiece
The winning streak has sparked a move into the top-four and Steele insists the Saints have the right mentality to stay there, but greater consistency looms as the key to taking the next step.
"A lot of the conversations (internally) are about just playing your role," Steele said.
"As simple as that is, that's what wins games of football.
"If you have the majority playing their role and doing what they need to for the team, that's what gets you consistency.
"When you have blokes that are out there kick-chasing and trying to get on the end of all these goals, that's when you all fall apart and it doesn't really work out.
"That's one thing we're focusing on, blokes just playing their role for the team and really rewarding those efforts."
Steele said enjoyment is a crucial aspect of what the Saints are trying to build under Ratten.
"That comes with playing that team-first mentality style of football that we probably have seen in the past, but just not consistently enough," he said.
