Callum Wilkie expects his reward for claiming a maiden All-Australian blazer to be a match-up with the AFL consultant crew’s captain.
The St Kilda defender is aware of he has his work reduce out towards GWS match-winner Toby Greene in Saturday’s elimination last on the MCG.
“I don’t know how to stop him. He’s an absolute superstar of the competition,” Wilkie instructed AAP.
“I saw his highlights when he was named captain and I just thought, ‘Damn it, I’m going to have the job on him’.
“He’s such a tough participant to cease. He’s good within the air and good on the bottom, he reads the ball so effectively and he is so good.
“It’s going to be a tough job.”
Wilkie, regarded internally because the Saints’ ‘Mr Reliable’, does not thoughts that.
“It keeps you on your toes, it keeps you engaged and it gets you into the game,” he stated.
“I definitely don’t walk into the game with a smile on my face because I’m pretty nervous with the task that’s about to happen.
“It is kind of daunting understanding that he can rip video games aside off his personal boot.
“It’s going to be a big task, not just for me, but for the other backs as well.”
That defensive unit – and all the defensive system – has been the Saints’ sturdy go well with all season.
Ross Lyon’s males completed sixth on the ladder however ranked first within the competitors for fewest factors conceded, giving up a mean of simply 71.6 a sport.
That was regardless of taking part in 14 of 23 fixtures in scoring-friendly situations below the roof at Marvel Stadium.
“That’s been our most consistent area as a whole team, not just our back-line,” Wilkie stated.
“We had a dull patch through the middle of the year but we weren’t getting blown away; we were still defending pretty strongly then but we just couldn’t score.
“I really feel like we’re at all times going to be within the sport due to how sturdy we defend and that is going to carry us in good stead within the finals when the stress goes up a notch.”
Wilkie was one of two St Kilda defenders named in the league’s team of the year, along with second-time All-Australian Jack Sinclair.
Both were originally recruited through the rookie draft, having been overlooked at national lotteries.
Wilkie, now 27, was a mature-age selection who made his AFL debut at 23 and hasn’t missed a game since.
“We play the sport for crew success however in saying that it is good to be recognised for the arduous work, not simply this yr, however the years earlier than that have gotten me to the place I’m,” he stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
