It’s hard to get a read on St Kilda entering 2022 after they were the Jekyll and Hyde team of last season.
While the Saints were consistently inconsistent, Dougal Howard and Callum Wilkie held down the defensive fort admirably alongside interceptor Tom Highmore, who showed he can play at the level.
The Saints will be without Nick Coffield (knee) for all of 2022 but the return of Ben Paton – who missed all of last year with a broken leg – bolsters their small defender stocks. Jack Sinclair and Jimmy Webster are key distributors out of defence with the former finishing second in last year’s best and fairest. Brad Hill was also deployed off half-back at times, but might be required more through the midfield.
Captain Jack Steele is a star of the competition but question marks hover over the quality and depth of St Kilda’s midfield group. Brad Crouch is a natural ball-winner, Zak Jones’ speed and dynamism is a point of difference while Jade Gresham and Hunter Clark could give the Saints a new dimension if they elevate themselves to new levels.
The Saints look a different side when Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder fire as a ruck combination, although the latter is nearing the end of his career. Keeping Marshall and Ryder fit is critical after the pair missed parts of 2021.
Max King will spearhead St Kilda’s attack and is an emerging star of the competition after finishing last year strongly. Tim Membrey is a solid foil to King while Marshall and Cooper Sharman will stretch opposition defences. Jack Higgins, Dan Butler and Jack Billings, who is set to play mostly across half-forward this year, have the makings of a lively trio.
The Saints are at an interesting juncture. They traded for mature-age players in 2019 and 2020 before deciding to replenish their list with younger talent in last year’s draft.
They can certainly content for a top eight spot if the likes of King, Clark and Gresham can take a quantum leap in their development. Maintaining a healthy list is also imperative.
DEFENDERS
Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie, Tom Highmore, Darragh Joyce, Oscar Adams, Jimmy Webster, Jack Sinclair, Brad Hill, Jarryn Geary, Ben Paton, Leo Connolly.
MIDFIELDERS
Jack Steele, Brad Crouch, Zak Jones, Jade Gresham, Hunter Clark, Dan Hannebery, Seb Ross, Jack Bytel, Daniel McKenzie, Ryan Byrnes, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Mitch Owens, Marcus Windhager.
RUCK
Paddy Ryder, Rowan Marshall, Tom Campbell, Max Heath.
FORWARDS Max King, Tim Membrey, Cooper Sharman, Jack Billings, Jack Higgins, Dan Butler, Matthew Allison, Mason Wood, Dean Kent, Ben Long.
UTILITY Josh Battle.