St Kilda defender Nick Coffield has been dropped for Friday night’s clash against Geelong.
Coffield was one of three Saints axed after last week’s narrow win over Gold Coast with Darragh Joyce and Mason Wood also making way.
The 21-year-old improved out of sight last season, finishing fifth in St Kilda’s best and fairest and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension.
But after a slow start to the year, St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has lost patience with the former top-10 draft pick.
“He was starting to take off last year. He was playing some good footy last year,” Tim Watson told SEN Breakfast.
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy identified where Coffield needs to improve his game.
“He’s an interceptor and they’ve lost a spot for him. Brad Hill went back, Hunter Clark’s gone back,” Healy told Sportsday.
“Just watching this kid pretty closely, he’s got the intercept element organised, but he’s got to get a little bit more proactive and get a bit more zip and dash off that half-back line, rather than just waiting for the ball to come to him in many respects.”
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St Kilda selected Coffield with pick No.8 in the 2017 National Draft. He’s played 44 games for the club.
In a huge blow for the Saints, key midfielder Zak Jones will miss up to eight weeks with a quad injury sustained in training on Wednesday.
Recruit James Frawley will make his debut against the Cats while Seb Ross and Tom Highmore have also been recalled.
St Kilda (4-4) will need to be at their best against a Geelong side (5-3) that thrashed reigning premiers Richmond by 63 points last week.