Young St Kilda key defender Hugh Goddard has been selected for his game of 2016, replacing experienced backman Sam Fisher who suffered a hamstring strain at training on Thursday.

Emerging youngsters Jack Billings and Jimmy Webster are a chance to return from injury and illness after being named in the extended squad to face Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, with key defender Tom Lee also in the 25-man squad.

Goddard comes in for his first appearance of 2016 at the expense of the unfortunate Fisher who produced one of his best performances of the year last week against Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich.

After debuting against Richmond in Round 16 last season, Goddard played the final eight games of last year, showing glimpses of his prodigious talent. With Fisher and Sean Dempster holding down the fort in defence, Goddard has had to bide his time in the VFL. 

The 19-year-old has played five games with Sandringham so far this season and has been building by the week. Before the VFL bye last weekend, Goddard limited the influence of dangerous North Melbourne forward Aaron Black, holding him to two marks and two goals following eight goals in two weeks from the mobile tall.

With Adelaide possessing the premier forward line in the AFL, averaging 112.4 points per week, Goddard will be handed a big role on one of the Crows key forwards in Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins or Tom Lynch. Walker has booted ten goals in two weeks, whilst Jenkins has 27 goals next to his name, ranked 5th in the Coleman medal race.

Billings missed last weekend’s 34-point win over the Dockers after suffering an ankle injury in the Saints win over Essendon a week earlier. The budding midfielder proved his fitness at main training on Thursday and has been included on the extended bench at this stage.

Rebounding defender Webster also missed the win over Fremantle – the Saints fourth this season – due to an illness, but has been cleared to play this weekend. Whilst transformed defender Lee is in line for his third appearance of the season and first since the Round 5 loss to Greater Western Sydney.

Brodie Murdoch has retained his spot after playing his first game of the season last Saturday against the Dockers. Along with Dylan Roberton and Jarryn Geary, Murdoch will have his work cut out for him opposed to Adelaide’s bevy of dangerous small and medium-sized forwards, led by All Australian Eddie Betts.

Saints ruckman Tom Hickey returns to the stage where he sparked his breakout patch against Port Adelaide in Round 1. The former Gold Coast Sun accumulated a career-high 56 hitouts and 20 disposals on Adelaide Oval and will face stiff opposition on Sunday in Sam Jacobs.

St Kilda’s key forward contingency of Captain Nick Riewoldt, Josh Bruce, Paddy McCartin and Tim Membrey will be looking to build on their positive fortnight forward of centre.

The most intriguing match-up in this part of the ground will be whoever Daniel Talia goes to, with the All Australian full-back in red-hot form having nullified Jeremy Cameron last week, Tom Lynch the week earlier and Tom Hawkins the week before that.

Roudn 11 v Adelaide
Adelaide Oval
Sunday, 5 June 4.40pm

B: J. Geary, S. Dempster, B. Murdoch
HB: D. Roberton, H. Goddard, J. Newnes
C: S. Savage, D. Armitage, L. Montagna
HF: M. Weller, N. Riewoldt, T. Membrey
F: J. Bruce, P. McCartin, J. Gresham
R: T. Hickey, S. Ross, J. Steven
Interchange from: L. Dunstan, T. Lee, J. Billings, S. Gilbert, J. Webster, D. McKenzie, J. Sinclair

IN: T. Lee, J. Webster, J. Billings, H. Goddard
OUT: S. Fisher (hamstring)