St Kilda coach Alan Richardson says that there is no reason why the club’s batch of new draftees can’t have an impact in their first season.
Following the retirements of club greats Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna, 2018 marks the start of a new era for Richardson’s team, who selected Dandenong pair Hunter Clark and Oscar Clavarino as well as Northern’s Nick Coffield, and Murray 19-year-old Ben Paton in November’s national draft.
Richardson said that Clark, Coffield, Paton and rookie pick Doulton Langlands will be trained up as midfielders and says that they have the opportunity to press their claims for a senior place over summer.
“They’re good runners, they’ve played consistent footy last year, so it looks like they’re going to be quite durable,” he told SEN Mornings.
“Clavarino is a taller key back and he’s going to take a little bit longer. Logan Austin who we traded for is probably the one really. He’s already played 18 games of AFL footy, so he’s much more likely to be able to come in and have an impact.
“But as I said to the boys, you can all play (early on) if you do what’s required and you earn the respect of your teammates.
“(Jade) Gresham has hardly missed since he’s been at the footy club as a pick 18. (Jack) Sinclair hasn’t missed a lot of footy coming in as a rookie…so it really doesn’t matter.”
St Kilda kicks off its 2018 campaign with a JLT clash against Carlton at Ikon Park on February 28.
What else did Richo say? Listen to the entire interview below!