Top draft choose Matteas Phillipou and pre-season bolter Anthony Caminiti are firmly within the combine for round-one AFL debuts as St Kilda scramble collectively a makeshift ahead line.
Returned coach Ross Lyon has an injury-induced headache, with spearhead Max King (shoulder), Jack Hayes (foot) and Matthew Allison (foot) all sidelined.
Experienced goal Tim Membrey stays unsure after present process knee surgical procedure final month.
But Phillipou and Caminiti buoyed the Saints’ teaching workers with optimistic shows in assault throughout a 35-point win over Essendon on Friday of their last observe match.
Pick No.10 ultimately 12 months’s draft, 190cm prospect Phillipou kicked a intelligent purpose and completed with 15 disposals, placing his hand up for choice within the season opener in opposition to Fremantle on March 19.
“He’s going to be really close and his attitude’s been first class,” Saints assistant coach Robert Harvey stated.
“Whether he plays or not, we’ll see … but what I’ll say is he’s been pretty good.
“For a younger fella to return in and do what he is completed has been fairly spectacular.
“I know he’s not satisfied and he’s so hungry to get better but we’re mighty impressed with how he’s gone about it so far.”
Caminiti, who was neglected on the draft final 12 months, was given an opportunity on the rookie checklist through the pre-season supplemental choice interval.
The 19-year-old, who provides a 196cm goal, had 11 disposals and 4 marks in opposition to the Bombers in his first pre-season look for the Saints.
“He’s just banging the door down really to have a crack and obviously we’re a bit light on (in attack),” Harvey stated.
“He really competed well, I thought he was really good, and he earnt that position today.
“We’ll see what occurs nevertheless it was actually good for him.”
The hit-out with Essendon was a scrappy contest in blustery conditions at Moorabbin, but Harvey was impressed with the Saints’ improved basics after a hiding from Melbourne the previous week.
“Our hit across the ball, our basic strain and talent to maintain that ball in our entrance half had been rather a lot higher, so there have been some optimistic indicators there,” Harvey stated.
“We needed to get a little bit of vitality in our sport going into spherical one and we noticed that.
“Was it perfect? Definitely not. There’s stuff we’ve got to get better at, but there were some good signs there.”
Young midfielder Marcus Windhager was resulting from have surgical procedure on his damaged hand on Saturday and is predicted to play in opposition to Fremantle.
Saints speedster Brad Hill missed the Essendon conflict due to private causes however is ready to return as he and Lyon confront their former membership in spherical one.
“He’s fine,” Harvey stated.
“He had some stuff going on personally (but) he’s really good and he’s raring to go for round one.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
