A massive seven changes headline St Kilda’s clash with Gold Coast this Saturday.

Jarryn Geary (leg) and Jack Steele (dislocated kneecap) are among the two biggest casualties for the Saints, with Ed Phillips (hamstring), Ben Long, Robbie Young, Nick Coffield and Darragh Joyce rounding out this week’s omissions.

Nick Hind will make his long-awaited debut after a consistent run of form in the VFL, which has seen him in the selection frame for a number of weeks.

READ: Hind to debut in Townsville, via Shanghai

The line-breaking recruit was named as an emergency seven times this season before being given the nod on Thursday afternoon.

Hind will be joined in defence by Brandon White, whose exceptional form for Sandringham was similarly rewarded.

Among the best on ground in each of his outings with the Zebras, White’s ability to launch attacks off the half-back line will be crucial, particularly in the absence of Geary.

INJURY UPDATE: Jack Steele to undergo scans

The defence will be reinforced by the returns of Jonathon Marsh and Daniel McKenzie, both of whom were late withdrawals from the Shanghai Showdown with travel-related illness.

Blake Acres, Hunter Clark and David Armitage will help fill the midfield void, with the latter coming in for his first game of the season.

Acres’ flexibility will be paramount given so many absences, while the inside grunt and strong work around the stoppages has been a defining feature in Clark and Armitage’s appearances for Sandringham.

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Doulton Langlands has been named as an emergency for the first time in his career, joining Nick Coffield, Ben Paton and Robbie Young on stand-by.

Gold Coast will host St Kilda at Townsville’s Riverway Stadium this Saturday at 1:45pm. 

IN: Clark, Marsh, McKenzie, Acres, Hind, White, Armitage

OUT: Geary, Steele, Phillips, Long, Young, Coffield, Joyce