Home guernsey: 6.6 (36)

Away guernsey: 3.1 (19)

BEST: Fisher, Newnes, Ross, Webster, Lee, Templeton, White, Geary, Armitage

GOALS: White 2, Lee 2, Shenton, Markworth, McCartin, Membrey, Saad

ST KILDA’s emerging crop of young players performed strongly in Saturday’s intra club game, complimenting the experience of Sam Fisher and Leigh Montagna terrifically.

The black team, wearing the club’s home guernsey, had the better of the white team, donning St Kilda’s new away jumper, running away winners by 17 points in a shortened format.

But for perhaps the only time this season, the result of the contest was close to irrelevant. Instead, it was the performances of a number of Saints that captured the attention of the 1500-strong crowd.

The biggest roar for the day came in the first 15 seconds, when number one draft pick Paddy McCartin took a strong mark on the lead in front of the Dare Iced Coffee member’s tent.

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The 18-year-old was closely shadowed by New Zealand scholarship holder Joe Baker-Thomas for the majority of the game but impressed with his leading patterns, work-rate and even booted his first goal in the red, white and black.

With Nick Riewoldt rested, a raft of key forward options aside from McCartin put their name up in lights with solid efforts.  

Tom Lee and Spencer White were both involved in a number of contests and kicked two majors apiece, while Tim Membrey was impressive and asserted his physical authority from the outset playing as a high half-forward.

Daniel Markworth began the game playing as an undersized centre-half-forward and looked lively following 2014 hamstring issues, while swingman Josh Bruce went goalless but appeared to be moving fluently after undergoing off-season shin surgery.

From a defensive perspective Sean Dempster and Sam Fisher were a class above, not limiting themselves to lockdown roles, but rather providing efficient run and carry in the back half.

If anyone had forgotten just how valuable Fisher is, they were quickly reminded today. On a number of occasions he sat slightly adrift of the immediate play, like a quarterback awaiting a quick flick backwards. With frightening regularity the 32-year-old ended up with the Sherrin and disposed of it cleanly.

Dempster had a similar role, although he was released to play a marginally more attacking game. His versatility remains one of his greatest strengths, spending time on Jack Lonie who is 17cm shorter than him.

There were also a variety of running defenders who impressed, including Jimmy Webster, Shane Savage and Jarryn Geary.

Webster in particular was excellent, warming to the contest as the match progressed.

The midfield battle was a captivating one for a number of reasons. Firstly, it illustrated precisely how dangerous St Kilda’s engine room can be when blessed a full bill of health. Regular on-ballers Luke Dunstan, Seb Ross, Maverick Weller, David Armitage and Leigh Montagna were well supported by the rapidly improving Jack Newnes (one of the best players on the day) and a bulked-up Jack Billings.

On one occasion Armitage fed the ball back to Newnes, who disposed of it via hand to Billings. Suffocated by an apparent lack of space and time, Billings’ left boot found a lateral outlet in Montagna which encapsulated the Saints slick ball movement.  

Armitage had done the grunt work, found Billings whose superior vision and composure allowed the 19-year-old to pinpoint Montagna 35 metres away.

As forecast earlier in the week, Eli Templeton rarely ventured anywhere other than the wing and looked lively throughout, at one stage taking on three opponents at once in front of the coaches box.

An array of other players showed promising signs and if the intra club is anything to go by, Alan Richardson and his coaching staff have a difficult job selecting a team for next Saturday’s NAB Challenge clash with Brisbane in Moreton Bay.

Nick Riewoldt and Jack Steven were rested but are both expected to feature in the NAB Challenge.

Game vision will be available on SAINTS.com.au on Monday.

 
Paddy McCartin tackles Jimmy Webster. (Photo: Dave Savell)