St Kilda will unveil three new recruits against Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with Jake Carlisle, Nathan Brown and Jack Steele all named, while Tom Hickey has been given the nod in the ruck.
Former Essendon key defender Carlisle will play his first AFL game in 566 days, and first game as a Saint, after the 25-year-old missed the entire 2016 campaign due to suspension.
Following 11 seasons and a premiership at Collingwood, full-back Brown will also play his first game in red, white and black, where he will partner Carlisle in a defensive key post.
After landing at Linen House Centre in exchange for a future second-round pick, Greater Western Sydney academy graduate Steele has been rewarded for his dazzling JLT Community Series form with a spot in St Kilda’s engine room.
Following weeks of debate regarding who will lead the Saints in the ruck, Alan Richardson and the match committee have elected to go with Hickey against All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn.
Richardson: Improving is the pass mark
Hickey produced a stellar breakout season in 2016, playing all but two games to finish 8th in the Trevor Barker Award, establishing himself as one of the best emerging ruckmen in the game.
The Queenslander cemented his Round 1 spot following a dominant best-on-ground performance against Sydney in the final game of the JLT Community Series.
The Saints are at full strength in the midfield, with reigning Trevor Barker Award winner Jack Steven, David Armitage, Seb Ross and Luke Dunstan set to lead the charge at the coal face against a highly rated Demons onball division.
Key forwards Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey and Paddy McCartin have all been named to face the Demons, with Jade Gresham and Nathan Wright also included in the forward half mix, along with high half-forward Mav Weller.
As Richardson alluded to in his pre-game press conference on Thursday morning, there isn’t room for all three of Dylan Roberton, Sam Gilbert and Sean Dempster in a backline containing Carlisle and Brown.
In a strong indication of the increased depth at Linen House Centre, stalwart defender Dempster hasn’t been picked for Round 1.
Big-bodied midfielder Blake Acres, livewire small forward Jack Lonie and ruckman Billy Longer have all been named as emergencies for Saturday’s game.
Round 1 Team v Melbourne
Saturday March 25
Etihad Stadium
B: Jarryn Geary, Nathan Brown, Jimmy Webster
HB: Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton
C: Shane Savage, David Armitage, Nick Riewoldt
HF: Luke Dunstan, Josh Bruce, Mav Weller
F: Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey, Nathan Wright
Foll: Tom Hickey, Jack Steven, Jack Steele
Interchange: Seb Ross, Jack Billings, Sam Gilbert, Paddy McCartin
Emergencies: Blake Acres, Jack Lonie, Billy Longer
