IT HAS been 10 months since Sam Fisher pulled on the boots for a game of footy with toe surgery bringing an early end to his 2013 campaign and hamstring and back issues hampering the beginning of this season.

But this week, one of St Kilda’s most reliable, highly credentialed and important players will return to action – assuming he gets through training. Yet whether he plays VFL or AFL is a matter for the selection committee.

The 31-year-old is a two-time best and fairest winner, an All-Australian (2008), and is just nine matches away from reaching the 200-game milestone.

“Fisher did some one-one-one skills last week and he’s training as we speak,” St Kilda Physio Andrew Wallis told SAINTS.com.au in his round five injury report.”

“So if he gets through training this week effectively as a test, then he will be available for selection.”

Another injured player who will return this week is Tom Hickey. The ruckman corked his calf at training last Friday and missed Sunday’s clash with Adelaide, but has been taken off the injury list and will come straight back into the senior team against the Bombers.

Whether Hickey and Longer can co-exist in the same team is an interesting question, but the ex-Brisbane big man certainly believes a dual ruck combination is a realistic possibility.

“I’m really excited and hopeful at the prospect of the two of us sharing the load in the ruck,” Longer told SAINTS.com.au prior to his debut in the red, white and black.

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One certain omission will be Nathan Wright, who is set to miss 10-12 weeks with a broken leg. The hard-running half-back enjoyed a stellar first month of footy, and Alan Richardson will be hard-pressed to replace the 20-year-old.



“Wrighty is going to be a really good player for our football club,” Alan Richardson said on Saturday.

“It’s disappointing for him and it’s disappointing for us. We’d like to have him out there but someone else will get an opportunity.”

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But who will this ‘someone else’ be?

From a defensive point of view, Tom Simpkin and Josh Bruce have been in solid form at VFL level in recent weeks, while Cameron Shenton looms as a smoky if St Kilda elects to upgrade the rookie and place Wright on the long-term injury list.

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St Kilda development coach and Sandringham assistant Paul Hudson praised Simpkin’s consistency over the past month in Monday’s VFL player breakdown.

“Tommy had seven tackles and 21 possessions down back and he was quite solid in defence. He’s definitely putting his hand up for selection because he’s been quite solid for three or four weeks now,” Hudson said.
From a forward-line perspective, Tom Lee booted three goals and five behinds in the Zebras’ draw on Saturday afternoon, reaffirming his spearhead status at the VFL level. Whether he can translate this good form to the AFL arena remains to be seen and Hudson complemented the key forward’s work-rate after booting four majors the week before.

“Over the last two weeks we’ve started to see the fruits of his fitness base and the extra work he did earlier in the year. He was constantly moving and providing a target up forward.”

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Jack Billings may also come into consideration to face the team he supported as a child this week. The classy left-footer collected 29 disposals against Box Hill, a performance that complemented his five-goal haul the week before.

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Seb Ross was similarly prolific, registering 24 touches and booting three majors, including one snap on his non-preferred right foot.

Ross is yet to break into the senior side in 2014 after playing 13 games last year, but looks to be the most likely midfielder to come into contention if Richardson decides to include another ball-winner.  

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