After playing in a VFL practice match last weekend, St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey sent a message in Albury, says Saints Coach Alan Richardson.

Hickey, who emerged as the No. 1 ruckman at Linen House Centre in 2016, played against the Northern Blues last Saturday morning while Billy Longer led the Saints engine room against Carlton.

But on Sunday night, the 26-year-old produced a near best on ground performance, accumulating 39 hitouts, 29 disposals (18 contested), 10 clearances and seven tackles, to demand a berth in St Kilda’s Round 1 side.

“Hickey was terrific, especially his work in the ruck; his work outside too was pretty positive,” Richardson told reporters in his post-match press conference on Sunday night.

“He sent a message that he doesn’t like playing in the VFL and that’s good.

“Billy Longer’s played some good footy too (this pre-season) and he was also pretty positive in the VFL yesterday.

“We’ve got a decision we need to make but he couldn’t have done much more tonight.”

Richardson lauded the performance of off-season recruit Jack Steele, after the former Greater Western Sydney midfielder backed up his eye-catching display against the Blues with another high-quality effort in the final game of the JLT Community Series.

Steele, who landed at the Saints in October in exchange for a future second-round pick, gathered 28 possessions (10 contested) and a game-high 12 tackles to be one of the most influential midfielders on the ground.

“He’s been really positive; he’s part of the reason we’ve been strong in contest,” Richardson said.

“We think with [Luke] Dunstan that he seems to have improved his footy this year, David Armitage is playing some really good footy, Seb Ross is doing a good job in there,

“‘Steeley’s’ really added to that and he’s got some outside play that comes with his physicality; he tackles strong.

“He’s certainly added (to our midfield) and he helps us outnumber, you don’t win contests unless you get more numbers to the footy and he gives that to us.”

St Kilda’s other midfield recruit from last year, Koby Stevens, travelled to southern New South Wales but was a late withdrawal due to illness, while hard nut Mav Weller didn’t finish the game due to a corky.

“Koby Stevens didn’t even take the field, he got crook so he didn’t play at all. Maverick Weller got just a little bit sore, just a nice corky so he had to come out of the game,” Richardson said.