Assistant coach Robert Harvey remains confident St Kilda’s injury-hit forward line will have no issue adjusting to its system-based structure despite injuries to its key stocks.
While scoreboard reliance has been weighted heavily towards the sidelined Max King (shoulder) in recent years, Harvey is confident that a collaborative, system-based structure will see the Saints forward, figuratively and literally.
“We’ve got some really good young talent through the door and we’re embedding a new system that we think is going to be exciting,” Harvey said at this morning's press conference.
“It creates opportunity and we’ve got some great young kids up in our front half that are ready to go, so we’re looking forward to that.
In positive news, key forward Tim Membrey has avoided a significant stint on the sidelines following minor surgery on his knee yesterday morning, saving Harvey and the Saints more forward headaches a month out from Round 1.
Membrey is expected to be available for St Kilda’s date with Fremantle and is slated to resume full training within the fortnight. The 28-year-old hasn’t missed a game through injury in three years, last being ruled out in late 2020 with a fractured finger.
“It was really pretty minor to be honest and we were going to push on, but we thought this was the time to have a look at it,” Harvey said.
“He’s had a full summer and he’s barely missed a session, so we’re really happy with where he’s at. In the actual session he was fine, it was just a couple of times when he was getting out the car, he was catching it a bit.
“Thankfully it was as minor as we thought it would be. Reports were all good so we’re expecting that he’ll be ok for Round 1.”
St Kilda recently added to its attacking stocks through pre-season Supplemental Selection Period recruit Anthony Caminiti, whose captivating match simulation performance last Friday netted the 19-year-old a spot the list after just two training sessions.
In further news, Max King is on-track with thanks to his “first-class” rehab process, while Jack Billings and Jade Gresham are “chomping at the bit” to return and make their presence felt inside the arc off the back of long-term back and knee injuries respectively.
Ross Lyon has flagged first-round draftee Mattaes Phillipou as being “every chance” to feature in red, white and black as early as Round 1.
Despite spending the bulk of his pre-season training with the midfield group, the athletic midfielder/forward Phillipou could easily factor into the mix of new attacking options, which has seen Mitch Owens and Cooper Sharman assume key posts as of late.
St Kilda hasn’t shied away from blooding its youth early in recent years. Mitch Owens, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Marcus Windhager all debuted in the opening month of last season, while Tom Highmore (2021), Max King (2020) and Hunter Clark (2018) were all Round 1 starters in their respective years.
“You can’t have favourites, but he’s as impressive a first-year player that I’ve experienced for (having) focus on improving his footy and still having fun as I’ve seen,” Lyon told 7News regarding Phillipou.
“We’ve got a plethora of small forwards, and Richmond showed if you can compete and bring it to ground… well, we’re going to have to manufacture some goals that way.”
St Kilda will put its new line-up to the test against opposition next Friday afternoon against Melbourne at RSEA Park.
