At a glance:

• Jack Sinclair's new-found role across half-back has shown promising signs of being an important asset to the Saints in 2021.
• The No. 35 was best-on-ground in Thursday's AAMI Community Series match against Carlton, collecting 28 disposals with precise accuracy and noticeable impact.
• Sinclair is set to be joined by Seb Ross and Hunter Clark in rotating between half-back and the midfield this season.

Jack Sinclair may have had “a few nerves” playing his first game at Marvel Stadium after 570 days, but it certainly didn’t show on Thursday night.

The 26-year-old, who has been chiefly deployed in a new role across half-back this season, was best-on-ground against Carlton, providing plenty of damage through his drive into attack and immaculate use by hand and foot.

Sinclair closed out his all-encompassing Thursday night with a game-high 28 disposals at 89 per cent, 611 metres gained (second only to Bradley Hill’s 849), 10 score involvements, eight intercepts, seven inside-50s and a goal.

“I probably haven’t tried (playing across half-back) a whole lot until the last few weeks,” Sinclair told RSN.

“Because we’ve got so many midfielders, we’ll just have to have heaps of guys swapping positions, playing half-forward, wing, half-back and even inside-mid.

“I think Ratts has been pretty happy with it, and I think I’ll probably play there a fair bit once the season starts and still get some midfield minutes.”

The multi-skilled Sinclair is used to playing wherever his side needs him, with the versatile talent plying his trade all over the ground last season.

Starting as a pacey half-forward after being named as an emergency for the first seven matches of the year, Sinclair picked up roles along the wing before becoming an integral inside midfielder following injuries to Jade Gresham and Dan Hannebery.

This year has been no different, with senior coach Brett Ratten making the most of the No. 35’s damaging attributes and positional flexibility.

“He’s had a pre-season where he’s played nearly the three lines – half-forward, midfield and half-back – but probably the last few weeks he’s settled in at half-back and played a bit on-ball as well,” Ratten said.

“We know Sincs is a good user of the footy and makes good decisions, so he had a good night, as did Hill, his first half was brilliant.”

Sinclair will be joined in the engine room and inside the defensive arc with Seb Ross and Hunter Clark, with both players set to rotate between the lines this season.

The duo were standouts in the 26-point victory at Marvel Stadium, with Ross accumulating 25 disposals, seven inside-50s and a goal, while Clark topped the Saints’ clearance numbers with eight and an ancillary 21 touches.

“He’s had a terrific pre-season and coaches have been really keen to expose him to more inside time,” Ross said about Clark.

“He does one or two things a game where you nearly start clapping your hands and applauding him because it’s unbelievable.

“Getting a different range of guys in through the centre bounce and exposing them to it, we think it can be a real strength of ours throughout the year and it’ll keep us dynamic.”