After an eye-catching debut season in 2015, second-year midfielder-forward Jack Sinclair got off to a good start this year, but couldn’t secure a spot in St Kilda’s best 22 in the back half of the season, despite stellar form at Sandringham.

The former rookie was on the cusp of selection throughout the year, but given the reinvention of Maverick Weller inside 50, the introduction of Jade Gresham and the rise of Darren Minchington and Nathan Wright, Sinclair was stuck in the queue at Linen House Centre.

Sinclair, 21, played seven of the opening 10 games, where the Scotch College product turned in some eye-catching performances, building on the bright start he made to his career last year.

He was prominent in the win over Collingwood in Round 3, before finishing with 19 disposals and two goals against Melbourne in Round 6, in what was one of his best performances at AFL level to date.

Despite being one of Sandringham’s best players in the second half of the season, Sinclair couldn’t force his way into Alan Richardson’s side permanently, only managing two games after Round 10, with his last appearance of the year coming in the win over the Western Bulldogs in Round 18.

Rohan Welsh’s Views:

“I think for someone like Jack and someone like ‘Lones’ you can get under the guard a little bit. He had a lot of time this year where he was an emergency and right on the edge. He was in and out a couple of times, so probably if I looked at his year I’d say it was an inconsistent year and probably the area that he needs to improve is in his contest and tackle and if he can do that over summer, get a little bit stronger and learn to bring that part of his game then I think he’ll have a really strong year.

“It’s hard as a second-year player after you’ve had such a successful year as a first-year because you think it will just happen, but opposition learn what sort of player you are and you’ve got to rise again, obviously with the inclusion of ‘Gresh’ who played really strong footy and ‘Wrighty’ going forward and playing that really defensive forward role, the spot for Jack didn’t really come about.

“So this pre-season he’s got to create that spot by getting in, winning his own footy and making the most of his opportunities. He got a lot of the footy at VFL level, whether he played in the same position that he would play in AFL he probably didn’t, he played a lot more through the midfield, whereas at AFL level he wouldn’t have played that role because there just isn’t a spot for him in the midfield right now. So that was why he had high numbers in the VFL, but would then come in and play a totally different role so that’s something that we’ve got to get right as well. I think he knew the area of his game that he needed to improve in; he needed to improve his forward pressure in tackle and defensive acts and if he can do that I’m sure he’ll have a big impact.”

The Numbers:

9 games
12.6 disposals
3.4 marks
2.7 tackles
2.1 inside 50s

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