LIST CHANGES 2012:Incoming: Tom Lee (Traded, Pre-Listed GWS Player, Claremont, WAFL), Tom Hickey (Traded, Gold Coast), Trent Dennis-Lane (Traded, Sydney Swans), Nathan Wright, Spencer White, Brodie Murdoch, Josh Saunders, Lewis Pierce, Dylan Roberton (delisted free agent, Fremantle)
Outgoing: Brendon Goddard (Free Agency, Essendon), Sam Crocker (delisted), Dean Polo (delisted), Daniel Archer (delisted), Brett Peake (delisted), Jamie Cripps (Traded, West Coast Eagles), Jason Gram (terminated), Warrick Andreoli (delisted), Raph Clarke (delisted), Nicholas Winmar (delisted)
Picks: 24 (Nathan Wright), 25 (Spencer White), 40 (Brodie Murdoch), 43 (Josh Saunders), 75 (Lewis Pierce), 90 (Promoted Rookie, Sam Dunell)
EXPECTATIONS:The Saints have enjoyed an off-season without being the hot topic of the off-season in the media because of any off-season antics, which in the past few years has crowded their pre-season training. Although many Saints fans don’t want to admit it, they’ve lost an important player in Brendon Goddard to Essendon and now need to find a player to play his role across the half back line and through the midfield. The Saints still have a budding midfield that is still in the top 5 midfields in the competition in the thoughts of some people and Ben McEvoy is really turning into a terrific young ruckman and is improving each and every year. St.Kilda targeted forwards in their off-season trading and drafting period. Tom Lee, a player from Claremont who has been the leading goal-kicker there, Trent Dennis-Lane that holds valuable experience from the Sydney Swans and Spencer White who is a freakish raw talent that may take a bit of time to hit the big time. St.Kilda’s aim should be finals but the concern is, have teams gone past them? Are other teams on the rise as the Saints start a rebuild? They still have a list good enough to play finals, but a lot will rely on injuries. If injuries hit St.Kilda’s key players, their depth will seriously be tested.
WHERE ST.KILDA CAN BEAT OTHER SIDES:As stated above, the midfield. Ben McEvoy leading the way with Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna and up and coming midfielders in David Armitage, Jack Steven, Tom Ledger and Jack Newnes, a fierce contest is what you’re always going to get from the St.Kilda midfield. Along with ferocious attack on the ball, the majority of this St.Kilda midfield can pin-point team-mates with their disposals which is a great weapon to have going into the forward line.
WEAKNESSES:The Saints desperately needed a big bodied defender in the off-season and failed to succeed in their search. They found Mitch Brown but the West Coast Eagles were reluctant to let him go and in the end, the Saints ended up empty handed. This hurts St.Kilda as the responsibility of shutting down key forwards will most likely fall on the shoulders of Sam Fisher, and Fisher’s at his best when he is running out of defence with the ball in his hand. He can still do this but not as frequently. James Gwilt is a terrific defender, but he isn’t the type to lock down a big power forward.
NEW RECRUITS:Tom Lee – The 195cm tall forward was secured through a trade with the GWS Giants as previously listed player. Lee was drafted by the Adelaide Crows in 2008 as a key forward before being de-listed just one year later. He went back to the WAFL and starred for Claremont in their premiership years. With both Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke heading into their 30’s, Lee may need to put straight in the deep end to gain some valuable experience.
Trent Dennis-Lane – Coming from the Sydney Swans, Dennis-Lane will rapt at the opportunity to play some regular senior football. Dennis-Lane was in and out of the side at Sydney, but when he featured in the side, especially before 2012, he showed a spark of brilliance and knows where the goals are.
Tom Hickey – Spending two years at the Gold Coast Suns, Hickey struggled to put continuity into his game but coming to the Saints and playing under Ben McEvoy will give him plenty of confidence and plenty to learn. Hickey has amazing talent and is a raw talent waiting to explode. Will play more than half of the games in 2013.
Dylan Roberton – Signed very late in the delisted free agency period, Roberton impressed coaches and players with the way he conducted himself at training. Roberton, crossing from the Dockers is a player that can play across half back or through the midfield. Has definite talent but struggles to find consistency. A new fresh star, at a big Melbourne club, may give his confidence a much needed boost.
Nathan Wright – A talented midfielder/defender that played alongside number one draft pick Lachie Whitfield in both TAC Cup and Vic Country, Wright is a midfielder that attacks the ball with ferocity and is clean with both hands and feet. Averaged 15 disposals for Vic Country in the championships. He is also more than capable of taking a big mark and has a strong core muscle which makes him very hard to tackle and beat when in a one-on-one contest.
Spencer White – Many liken him to Lance Franklin in early days. Left footed, came second in the TAC Cup goal kicking and has some amazing abilities that he has put on show in the TAC Cup for the Western Jets. He received quite a late invitation to the Draft Combine and starred, rocketing him up the draft pecking order.
Brodie Murdoch – Another left footer from Glenelg, South Australia, Murdoch is super quick amd is a terrific long kick. Brother of Jordan, who is at Geelong, Brodie is also quite strong overhead for a medium sized forward and has a work rate like you wouldn’t believe. Can also play across half back as his long left foot is put to good use.
Josh Saunders – A medium sized defender/midfielder, who also possesses a terrific long kick, Saunders has terrific endurance, proved with a 14.10 on a beep test at the combine. The biggest asset of his game is that he has speed to burn and is at his best when he is running and carrying the ball out of defence. He averaged 23 touches in 12 games for the Geelong Falcons.
Lewis Pierce – The beanpole ruckman, taken at pick number 75, Pierce has a great endurance for a big man and is good overhead. The highlight of his game is his ruck work and the way he positions himself and his tap work is something quite special. Coming into the AFL, it may take time for Pierce to put on muscle before he has an impact at AFL level. Can also rotate down forward and can be quite effective.
FINAL SAY:St.Kilda’s list is definitely capable of finishing inside the top 8, but a lot, as spoken, will rely on the injuries they receive throughout the year and at what time of year they occur. Nick Riewoldt is still one of the best centre half forwards in the competition and will be the main focal point going forward and playing him deeper in the forward line may not be a bad option. Justin Koschitzke is very much a confidence player. You just know if he is going to have a good day or not by his first contest that he is in. If he takes a big clunking mark, he is in for a good day, but there are now better options for the Saints to look at and go ahead with. Arryn Siposs is the player that jumps out to replace Brendon Goddard across the half back line. He reads the play quite well and has a terrific long kick on him. St.Kilda did improve on one thing majorly last year and that was their pace. In 2011/2012 off season, they recruited pace and it definitely paid off for them when Ahmed Saad and Terry Milera showed off their skills and showed that they can play at the senior level. The Saints will be in a group of a number of teams fighting it out for the bottom half of the 8, but if injuries hit, it could be a problem. The reason the gap between the prediction is so big is giving leeway for injuries if they occur.
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