Budding St Kilda star forward Tim Membrey is determined to build on his breakout 2016 campaign by becoming one component of a more efficient and damaging forward setup this season.
The 22-year-old was one of the most improved players in the AFL last season, emerging from almost anonymity to back page newspaper spreads on the back of booting 44 goals – the most at the club – from 17 games, including four bags of five goals.
Membrey, who finished 9th in the Trevor Barker Award last year, says the Saints collection of young tall forwards, which also includes 2015 leading goalkicker Josh Bruce and prized No. 1 pick Paddy McCartin, is continuing to learn the nuances of each other’s games and that will continue to be a key focus in 2017.
“I’ll try and just focus on how I go about things and just work together with the other two talls down there,” Membrey told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re really starting to create a bit of synergy working together with the other forwards down there. So we want to keep on improving that with the other talls and smalls as well.
“I think if we want to bridge that gap, and if we want to play finals, then that’s something we’ve got to improve on as a young forward line; we’ve got to take those responsibilities and just get better week in week out.”
While the Saints are well stocked in the offensive key spots, with champion forward Nick Riewoldt still present, the club is also overflowing with small and medium-sized forwards who can’t all fit into Alan Richardson’s best 22 at the same time.
Membrey believes the ferocious competition for spots is healthy for the club on the eve of a season where the Saints are eager to return to September for the first time since 2011.
“I think it’s a good thing we’ve got a lot of good players who can put their hand up if needed so it’s a healthy competition in the forward line, and also across the board as well,” he said.
“We’ve got plenty of guys who if they get an opportunity they will grab it with both hands.”
