Six players, three with under 10 games.
That’s how the Saints’ back six shaped up against the Magpies in Round 9.
St Kilda’s willingness to field such a young defence was surely facilitated by the career-best form of rising talent Jimmy Webster, who's averaged nearly 25 disposals per game at 80% efficiency.
With the departure of “Joey” Montagna last year leaving a significant void, and the continued absence of Dylan Roberton, it’s fallen on Webster to become the General to lead the new-look back six.
“With ‘Joey’ leaving, that’s when it was sort of left up to me to take that next step and take my leadership to another level,” the 24-year-old told saints.com.au.
“I was probably a bit quiet, but with ‘Robbo’ unwell and Hunter and ‘Coff’ (Nick Coffield) coming in, I had to step up and help those younger guys.”
Apart from a minor hip flexor speedbump, Webster has hit a purple patch this season, and he puts his newfound career-best form down to simplifying his approach.
“I feel like I’m a lot more confident now,” Webster said.
“I try not to overthink it too much … a couple of years ago, I’d have a set routine of when to go to bed, what to eat and all that, but now I’m a lot more relaxed and can just concentrate on playing good footy.”
Known for his laid-back larrikinism around the football club, Webster’s casual off-field persona couldn’t be further from the courage and determination he displays on the footy field, a trait starting to rub off on his younger teammates.
Saturday night saw first-year draftee Hunter Clark blindly back into a contest under the ball without hesitation in just his sixth game of AFL football.
“It’s amazing to see. It takes a lot of courage to put your body on the line like that, and Hunter’s shown that he’s got that courage,” he said.
“‘Coff’ has done it a few times as well, and that’s how you earn the respect of the players. They’re both going about it the right way.”
Jimmy Webster has been in career-best form in 2018.
Webster’s courage drew a deafening roar of approval against Melbourne in Round 7 when he unrelentingly charged back with the flight, just getting his fist to the ball to spoil in a bone-crunching clash of bodies.
“I want to be someone who inspires my teammates and gives them a lift with the way I play the game,” Webster said.
“Because I’m not that guy who’s yelling out and screaming out what to do, so I’d rather do something like that to inspire everyone.”
And that simple statement encapsulates everything the soft-spoken Tasmanian stands for.
“With Joey leaving, that’s when it was left up to me to take that next step and take my leadership to another level”
- Jimmy Webster
Webster has tried to model his game on current leader Jack Steven, whose unassuming approach to football has allowed him to focus on inspiring his teammates through his actions, not always his words.
“‘Stuvvy’ is someone that I really look up to,” Webster said.
“He’s not the loudest bloke in the side, but the way he goes about his footy really inspires his teammates.”
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“I feel like you don’t have to be in that leadership group to still have a big impact,” the defender said.
“Stuvvy gets tagged most weeks and he still finds a way to perform, so he’s someone that I love watching … he inspires his teammates on-field and that’s what I want to try and do. I want to be like Stuvvy I guess!”
For now, though, Webster’s focus remains firmly set on this weekend’s date with the reigning premiers.
“We’ve got a tough couple of weeks ahead facing the top 2 sides in the competition, but we know when our footy is going well, we can match it with anyone,” the defender said.
The Saints face Richmond this Saturday afternoon at
