St Kilda headed to their mid-season bye with five wins and six losses. We take a look at what has worked out, and what has gone awry.
Pie Travis Varcoe keeps tabs on Jack Billings.Credit:AAP
THUMBS UP
All things considered its been a reasonable first half of the year from the Saints. Theyve been competitive in most games and jagged early wins which helped build confidence and ease some of the pressure on coach Alan Richardson.
The addition of assistant coach Brett Ratten seems to have added defensive steel to a team that was relatively easy to score against in 2018, with St Kildas conceding an average of 86 points per game this year, down from more than 96.5 last year.
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The Saints have been more conservative in their ball movement, and have proved particularly hard to break down on their home ground at Marvel Stadium, a ground at which they have a 4-2 record this season.
Jack Billings started the year brilliantly, spreading his wings and helping to vindicate his selection at pick No. 3 in the 2013 draft. Jade Gresham, perhaps the Saints brightest young star, has also performed well, pushing into the midfield while still kicking goals. St Kilda received a major boost in recent weeks when he re-signed until the end of 2023.
THUMBS DOWN
That St Kilda remain comfortably clear of the competition's cellar-dwellers, and even an outside chance of making the finals, is all the more remarkable given what has gone wrong at Moorabbin this year.
Between important defenders Dylan Roberton and Jake Carlisle, cursed forward Paddy McCartin, captain Jarryn Geary, high-priced recruit Dan Hannebery, and four-time best and fairest Jack Steven, the Saints have been able to eke out a grand total of nine senior appearances.
Roberton (heart) and McCartin (concussion) have both been ruled out for the season with their respective playing futures in doubt. Carlisle underwent back surgery and hasnt played yet this year, while the battered Hannebery has only just returned via the VFL, with the Saints diligence in recruiting the three-time All-Australian coming into question.
Down and out: St Kilda's Jarryn Geary suffers a serious blow during the match in Shanghai.Credit:AAP
The generally dependable Geary has been hit by two separate injuries requiring surgery which will end up wiping out most of his season.
And star midfielder Steven has had several extended breaks from the game as he deals with mental health problems.
Given the Saints list only contains a relatively modest level of talent, and some of the teams ball use has been awful, they have held up OK.
WHOS JUMPED UP?
St Kildas ruck stocks loomed as an area of weakness heading into the year after Tom Hickey departed for West Coast and Scott Lycett opted to join Port Adelaide rather than head to Moorabbin. Billy Longer was far and away the most experienced ruckman on the list but had an interrupted pre-season, with Lewis Pierce given the nod in round one after a reasonable finish to 2018. However Pierces stay in the seniors lasted just one match.
Brodie Grundy and Rowan Marshall.Credit:AAP
From round two St Kilda put the emerging Rowan Marshall in the ruck, and from there the New Zealand-born big man has barely looked back, bar a week missed through illness.
Marshall had been played as a ruck/forward in 2017 and 2018 but he has made the No. 1 big man spot his own this year. Strong in the air, he can also find Read More – Source
St Kilda headed to their mid-season bye with five wins and six losses. We take a look at what has worked out, and what has gone awry.
Pie Travis Varcoe keeps tabs on Jack Billings.Credit:AAP
THUMBS UP
All things considered its been a reasonable first half of the year from the Saints. Theyve been competitive in most games and jagged early wins which helped build confidence and ease some of the pressure on coach Alan Richardson.
The addition of assistant coach Brett Ratten seems to have added defensive steel to a team that was relatively easy to score against in 2018, with St Kildas conceding an average of 86 points per game this year, down from more than 96.5 last year.
Advertisement
The Saints have been more conservative in their ball movement, and have proved particularly hard to break down on their home ground at Marvel Stadium, a ground at which they have a 4-2 record this season.
Jack Billings started the year brilliantly, spreading his wings and helping to vindicate his selection at pick No. 3 in the 2013 draft. Jade Gresham, perhaps the Saints brightest young star, has also performed well, pushing into the midfield while still kicking goals. St Kilda received a major boost in recent weeks when he re-signed until the end of 2023.
THUMBS DOWN
That St Kilda remain comfortably clear of the competition's cellar-dwellers, and even an outside chance of making the finals, is all the more remarkable given what has gone wrong at Moorabbin this year.
Between important defenders Dylan Roberton and Jake Carlisle, cursed forward Paddy McCartin, captain Jarryn Geary, high-priced recruit Dan Hannebery, and four-time best and fairest Jack Steven, the Saints have been able to eke out a grand total of nine senior appearances.
Roberton (heart) and McCartin (concussion) have both been ruled out for the season with their respective playing futures in doubt. Carlisle underwent back surgery and hasnt played yet this year, while the battered Hannebery has only just returned via the VFL, with the Saints diligence in recruiting the three-time All-Australian coming into question.
Down and out: St Kilda's Jarryn Geary suffers a serious blow during the match in Shanghai.Credit:AAP
The generally dependable Geary has been hit by two separate injuries requiring surgery which will end up wiping out most of his season.
And star midfielder Steven has had several extended breaks from the game as he deals with mental health problems.
Given the Saints list only contains a relatively modest level of talent, and some of the teams ball use has been awful, they have held up OK.
WHOS JUMPED UP?
St Kildas ruck stocks loomed as an area of weakness heading into the year after Tom Hickey departed for West Coast and Scott Lycett opted to join Port Adelaide rather than head to Moorabbin. Billy Longer was far and away the most experienced ruckman on the list but had an interrupted pre-season, with Lewis Pierce given the nod in round one after a reasonable finish to 2018. However Pierces stay in the seniors lasted just one match.
Brodie Grundy and Rowan Marshall.Credit:AAP
From round two St Kilda put the emerging Rowan Marshall in the ruck, and from there the New Zealand-born big man has barely looked back, bar a week missed through illness.
Marshall had been played as a ruck/forward in 2017 and 2018 but he has made the No. 1 big man spot his own this year. Strong in the air, he can also find Read More – Source
