SAINTS fans expect their team to push on in the second half of the season and end their six-year finals drought.

St Kilda sat 10th heading into its bye with a 5-5 record, but a majority of fans giving their mid-season verdict on the Saints in an AFL.com.au survey tipped them to improve to eighth by the end of the season.

The Saints have built steadily under coach Alan Richardson since bottoming out by earning the wooden spoon in 2014.

They finished 14th in 2015 and ninth last season, missing the finals only by percentage.

Almost nine in 10 Saints fans are happy with Richardson's performance, along with those of All Australian contenders Dylan Roberton and Seb Ross.

Here are the full survey results, plus a selection of fans' views on how the Saints need to deliver in 2017.

It'll be a good year for the Saints if ...

We can win 12 games and recruit Martin, Fyfe or Kelly.
- Michael Smith, Swan View WA

We get games into the under 21s, and Hawthorn's first-round draft selection is a single-digit pick.
- Nigel Francis, Hobart Tas

We beat our win-loss record last year and play off in the finals. Nothing less would be acceptable.
- Ian Yeo, Echuca Vic

We work hard at becoming consistently good. Great teams don't get blown away as often as we do.
- Julie Verga, Bendigo Vic

They stop talking about the salary cap and focus on what they have now. You can buy talent but can't buy a hard working playing group.
- Harry Fry, Claremont WA

We can prove that we're within four goals of the top teams
- David Cann, Clifton Hill

We make finals, Josh Bruce finds his form and Nathan Freeman plays some AFL matches.
- Daniel Stone, Adelaide SA

Read more

• Mid-season review: How the Saints' best 22 has changed

• More mid-season reviews: your club's pass mark and biggest worry

• Fan survey results: You say the flag is a two-horse race