Ahead of the Saints season opener against Port Adelaide on Easter Sunday, one position in Alan Richardson’s side that still remains wide open is the No. 1 ruck role.
St Kilda opted to give ruckmen Tom Hickey and Jason Holmes a half each to run the ruck department against Melbourne on Sunday afternoon at Etihad Stadium, with Billy Longer and Lewis Pierce playing a day earlier in the VFL.
It remains unclear if Richardson will elect to play one or two ruckmen this season with the reduction in interchange rotations likely to impact that decision, depending on if the resting big man can also have an impact in attack.
Opposed to the vastly improved Max Gawn, Hickey spent the first half in the ruck before pushing forward after the main break to provide a strong target inside 50 alongside Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey.
Holmes entered the game at the beginning of the third quarter and immediately showed off his jaw dropping athleticism and devastating tap work, putting the ball down his midfield’s throats at times.
The American not only did his work in the air, but when the ball hit the ground his pressure was a feature at times, impressing Richardson with not only his tap work but also his follow up at stoppages.
“I thought 'Holmesy’s' follow up in tight was pretty positive. He’s a guy that gives us a different dimension in there and we haven’t been great at hit outs,” Richardson told reporters following St Kilda’s final NAB Challenge fixture on Sunday.
“I think he had 21 hit outs, Hickey had 20. Both their hit outs to advantage were reasonably even.
“Longer had a reasonably good game at VFL level, Lewy Pierce was pretty positive.”
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With 43 games of senior football next to his name, former top-ten draft pick Longer is the most experienced ruckman at Linen House Centre, emphasising the lack of experience the Saints comprise in this department.
Richardson is realistic with the development pathway young key position players take, well aware big men take time to flourish, but said he needs them to come on this season and have an impact.
“We have young rucks and we know that rucks take a while – ‘Holmesy’s’ not young but with respect to our game he’s young,” Richardson said.
“We think that in time we’re going to have some really good players there. We’re trying to fast track that, we’re impatient, but we’ve got some good stocks there.”
St Kilda have one position available on their primary list to elevate a rookie, with Holmes one of the front runners to earn the elevation following two eye-catching performances in the NAB Challenge series.
