A move to a wing has not only transformed Jack Sinclair into a different player this season, it has also fuelled him with belief after a disappointing 2016.
After playing 18 games in an eye-catching debut season, Sinclair, 22, played seven of the first ten games last year, but only featured twice more as St Kilda flew home on the back straight.
But since returning to Alan Richardson’s side down in Launceston in Round 6, Sinclair has relished his new role as a wingman, producing the best patch of football of his career.
While the Saints didn’t come close to the Crows at Adelaide Oval last Friday night, Sinclair was one of St Kilda’s more damaging midfielders, collecting a career-high 25 disposals in an intriguing battle with young Adelaide playmaker Rory Atkins.
St Kilda Senior Assistant Coach Adam Kingsley, who manages the midfield at Linen House Centre, has overseen the midfielder’s evolution and says Sinclair’s improvement has not only come from a role change but from the belief he can now play at the level.
“I think his improvement this year has come from feeling comfortable at the level – that certainly plays a big role,” Kingsley told saints.com.au ahead of Friday night’s game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
“He looks comfortable now in and around the contest and the pressure of AFL footy. You can see him, he hangs onto the ball and seems to evade tackle really well and works his way through traffic and then can hit the target.
“It’s a really impressive trait to have, not a lot of guys have that calmness under pressure. That’s something we like seeing from Jack.”
After beating down the door at Sandringham earlier in the year, Sinclair demanded another opportunity. He has carried that form with him, collecting three 20+ disposal hauls and averaging 19.2 touches and 5.5 score involvements in the six games since then.
Having started his career as a small forward who pinch hit as a midfielder in five or six-minute bursts, Kingsley admits it is now clear Sinclair is best used on a wing where he can use his engine and composure to impact games on the outside.
“From what we’ve seen he’s more suited now to the wing. We’ve really played him in the past as a small forward and used him for a little bit of relief inside. But now playing him on the wing he has really adapted to that role really well,” Kingsley said.
“He’s a hard worker, he works back to help our defence, he works forward to provide options, he’s good in and around the contest at the stoppage and he’s very composed with the ball.
“Jack is also a big runner – he’s not the quickest bloke on our list but he certainly covers the ground well – he’s well suited to a wing role. He’s still got work to do, he’ll still improve, but he’s found a spot that suits his skillset that’s for sure.”
Kingsley believes Sinclair, who inherited Robert Harvey's iconic No. 35 at the end of last season, complements St Kilda’s other predominant wingman, Jack Newnes, with both players going about their business in a similar manner, but with slight variations.
“I think he complements Newnes on the other wing who’s an even better runner, got speed, good kick, good decision maker, works back, works forward. So they are quite similar players but they just do it in a different style,” he said.
