Saints set to roll out top pick from 2016
St Kilda will unveil at least two new faces at Princes Park on Saturday afternoon, with Saints Assistant Coach Aaron Hamill – who will coach the side this weekend – revealing at a press conference on Friday morning that the club's first selection in last November’s National Draft, Ben Long, and 2015 father-son recruit, Bailey Rice, will make their first appearances in red, white and black. Renowned for his class and toughness, Long is set for his first game since helping Footscray to last year’s VFL premiership. Taken with pick No. 25, Long bolted up draft calculations in the second half of 2016, with a six-goal performance in a preliminary final stamping his ticket. Look to see the Northern Territorian add class and defensive pressure to the Saints forward line.
Ironic start for father-son recruit
While Jade Gresham burst onto the scene as one of the brightest players in his draft class, and Brandon White broke through for a final round debut, Rice has had to wait a little bit longer for a taste of senior football. An untimely bout of glandular fever derailed his first pre-season at the club, but after completing far more of the program in year two, the medium-sized defender is poised to make his mark in 2017. In a twist of irony, Rice will get his first opportunity against the side he turned down as a father-son option after his father, Dean, played 118 games in navy blue, and at a venue he grew up inside during the tail end of his old man’s career. Rice played predominantly in defence across 16 games at Sandringham last year, but will be looking to turn more of those into AFL appearances in 2017.
First start for 2017 for emerging group
After not playing in the Saints’ opening JLT Community Series fixture against Port Adelaide, a handful of young players are in line to commence their season’s at Ikon Park this weekend. Blake Acres, Jimmy Webster, Jack Sinclair and Darren Minchington have all been included in the 29-man squad. Big-bodied midfielder Acres compiled a breakout patch in the back half of 2016, after overcoming an inconsistent start to the year where he was dropped on a few occasions but also earned a Rising Star nomination. Lockdown defender Webster is set for his first start since suffering a hamstring strain in the thrilling victory over Geelong in Round 14. The Tasmanian endured several soft tissue setbacks last year but has compiled a strong pre-season to put himself in a good position ahead of Round 1.
Opportunity presents itself for Longer
While Tom Hickey went from strength to strength in 2016, adding a swag of big scalps to his name as he established himself at AFL level, Billy Longer suffered a few setbacks and didn’t feature at senior level. A year earlier, the former pick No. 8 played 18 games as the Saints No. 1 ruckman. Now, after a full summer on the track and after an encouraging start against the Power, the former Brisbane Lion has been handed the keys to the engine room this weekend. The match committee at Linen House Centre has elected to give Longer the sole rucking responsibilities against Carlton, who are without their No. 1 big man Matthew Kreuzer, as well as Andrew Phillips and Daniel Gorringe. With Round 1 just over three weeks away, an opportunity presents itself for Longer.
Hamill returns to Princes Park in new position, for now
Last week it was Adam Kingsley’s turn, this week it’s Aaron Hamill’s. And just like last week, there is a tinge of irony in the coaching appointment. Kingsley led proceedings against the same side he won a premiership with in 2004, while this week Hamill will steer the ship against the navy blues where he was adored by everyone at Princes Park. Just like last Thursday night at Etihad Stadium, St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson will park himself on the pine where he will observe the game from a different perspective and interact with players and staff from ground level. After Kingsley led the Saints to a one-point win over Port Adelaide, can ‘Sammy’ follow suit against his old mob?
