St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson has indicated that new faces Jake Carlisle, Nathan Brown and Jack Steele are all likely to make their first appearances in red, white and black against Melbourne on Saturday.
Key defenders Carlisle and Brown played in all three games of the JLT Community Series where they steadily built synergy amid a new-look back six that won’t contain Leigh Montagna this weekend.
Starved of opportunity across two seasons at Greater Western Sydney, Steele is set to be rewarded for his eye-catching performances against Carlton and Sydney where he averaged 26.5 disposals (11.5 contested) and 10 tackles.
“We are likely (to see a few new faces). Carlisle, Brown and ‘Steeley’ are every chance to play,” Richardson told reporters at Linen House Centre on Thursday morning.
“We’ve got a training session we’ve got to get through and we’ve got to make sure we’re fit and healthy, finish off selection. But they’ve certainly done everything right.”
St Kilda’s other recent acquisition, Koby Stevens, was ruled out of selection earlier in the week after the former Western Bulldogs and West Coast midfielder was hospitalised due to food poisoning.
“Koby, unfortunately, got crook before the last game against Sydney, didn’t play and was in hospital for the last week and this is just his first day back at the club today,” Richardson said.
“He won’t play any footy this week and it might take a little while which is stiff because he was going well.”
With the arrival of Carlisle and Brown in the defensive key posts, Richardson said it was unlikely the Saints could play all three of Dylan Roberton, Sam Gilbert and Sean Dempster in the same team.
“It’s very unlikely all those guys will play in the backline,” he said.
“We certainly need to get some balance there and make sure we get some run from players like [Jimmy] Webster and [Jarryn] Geary and [Leigh] Montagna when he’s available and Shane Savage. So there’s always a balance there.”
Richardson said another major match committee decision this week centred around ruck selection and whether the Saints would go with one of Tom Hickey or Billy Longer or a combination of the two.
“It’s an interesting one, we know that that’s a real strength for the Demons. We’ve generally just gone with the one ruckman so we’ve got some decisions to make there,” he said.
“Billy’s been in really good form, Hickey couldn’t have been any more impressive in his last outing against Sydney so it’s a pleasant headache.”
