St Kilda have conceded their assault was too targeted on Max King throughout a failed AFL finals bid final 12 months as they try and construct a brand new sport plan underneath Ross Lyon.
Star ahead King is significant to the Saints’ success, however will miss a minimum of the primary month of Lyon’s first season again on the helm after present process shoulder surgical procedure in December.
The 22-year-old’s absence comes with Lyon dealing with a troublesome ask to get the Saints off to begin, with fixtures towards three of final 12 months’s finalists within the opening 5 rounds.
King was the Saints main goal-kicker and No.1 goal in assault final 12 months by a good distance, however defender Callum Wilkie can see positives in lining up with out his 202cm teammate early in season.
“He’s obviously an important player but I’m excited for the opportunity to actually learn to play and use the ball going forward without him,” Wilkie mentioned.
“I felt like last year we were too Max-focused and pretty predictable for opposition teams, who knew we were just going to kick it to him.
“It’s thrilling for nevertheless many video games he misses – whether or not it is two, 5 or no matter – to study to play with out him.
“By the time he gets back, hopefully we’ve learnt to play without him and we don’t just go to him all the time.
“He is a focus of the offence however he isn’t every thing.”
Fellow key position players Jack Hayes and Matt Allison are also out of action because of foot injuries, prompting St Kilda to trial second-year utility Mitch Owens in attack.
Veteran forward Tim Membrey and Cooper Sharman are available and are set to line up when the Saints host Lyon’s former club Fremantle in round one.
“Owens is rattling onerous to play on,” Wilkie mentioned.
“He’s so sturdy … I do not know what the restrict is for him as a result of he is so onerous to play on already.
“He’s going to be a strong option for us going forward in the first half of the year when we might have a few players down.”
Wilkie mentioned the Saints have targeted on constructing upon a powerful health base to enhance their working sport and velocity of assault as they search a return to finals motion for the primary time since 2020.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
