Tim Watson says there is a quiet confidence bubbling away at St Kilda.
The Saints eviscerated North Melbourne in a practice match at Arden Street yesterday, unveiling a host of recruits on their way to a 22.8.140 to 6.13.49 win.
“The people at St Kilda, around the team, are very, very happy with what they’ve built,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
The Saints successfully integrated Brad Hill, Dan Butler, Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder and Zak Jones into their first team last year, and repeating the dose doesn’t appear to have slowed them.
Suiting up for his boyhood club for the first time, Jack Higgins kicked two goals in the first quarter and spent time in his preferred midfield position.
Garry Lyon asked whether Higgins could eclipse another recruit from Tigerland.
“I think he’s capable of having a bigger impact than Dan Butler,” Watson speculated.
“Jack Higgins is going to be a beauty.”
Butler kicked 29 goals in 2020 and was included in the All-Australian squad, after falling out of favour at Punt Road.
Supplemental selection Mason Wood put his hand up for the season-opener against GWS, booting four goals against his former club.
The 27-year-old was delisted by the Kangaroos at the end of the 2020 season, after 65 appearances across eight seasons.
“I think he has enormous talent, Mason Wood, but we haven’t seen him do it regularly,” Lyon said.
“I don’t have any great expectations, but if the penny drops like it has for a lot of players after they’ve been given the lemonade from one team.
“He can play AFL footy, there’s no doubt about it in my mind.”
Watson is similarly prepared to hold fire until Wood backs up Thursday’s haul.
“He needs to be more competitive more consistently to be an AFL player,” he explained.
“There’s no question he’s got talent but he hasn’t been able to produce it consistently enough.”
Hawthorn premiership defender James Frawley and ex-Crows midfielder Brad Crouch also made their first appearances in red, white and black on Thursday morning.