Rarely, if ever, in Alan Richardson’s time at Linen House Centre has he faced a selection conundrum quite like this. But it’s a headache he and the match committee want to face as they dedicate time this week to picking St Kilda’s best 22 to play Melbourne on Saturday.
New key defenders Jake Carlisle and Nathan Brown provide stability in the defensive key posts, but what makeup will the Saints go for around them?
Dylan Roberton and Sam Gilbert played in the final JLT Community Series hit out against Sydney, while Sean Dempster played the opening two pre-season games but didn’t feature in Albury. Can all three fit in the same side?
After not featuring once across the JLT Community Series, dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna has been ruled out of the first game of the season, but should be fit to return for the trip to Perth in Round 2.
With Roberton, Gilbert and Shane Savage at half-back, St Kilda has plenty of options to generate drive out of the back half, while Jarryn Geary, Jimmy Webster and Daniel McKenzie are all small defensive options. Bailey Rice won’t be available for selection after he broke his finger against Carlton in the second week of the pre-season series.
The off-season arrivals of Jack Steele and Koby Stevens has increased the depth and grunt in the engine room but also increased the selection intrigue. A bout of food poisoning has put a line through Stevens this weekend, but surely Steele can’t be denied a first-up appearance following his impressive month.
While midfield stars Jack Steven, David Armitage and transformed wingman Nick Riewoldt pick themselves, and Jack Newnes, Seb Ross, Jack Billings and Luke Dunstan have all emerged as regular fixtures in recent years, where do players like Jade Gresham, Blake Acres and Darren Minchington fit into the midfield mix?
The battle between 2016 No. 1 ruckman Tom Hickey and the man who held the mantle 12 months earlier Billy Longer has been intriguing over the summer, with the pair jostling over for the main responsibility. With St Kilda reluctant to go with two ruckmen in the same team last season, it would appear likely that the Saints will only choose one to face All-Australian Max Gawn.
Just like at the other end of the ground, the Saints are well stocked in the key posts in attack with Josh Bruce, Paddy McCartin and Tim Membrey. Add Mav Weller into the setup inside 50 and the Saints possess plenty of grunt in the front half.
Nathan Wright and Jack Lonie both played in all three games of the JLT Community Series, while Jack Sinclair featured in the middle game against Carlton and is another option as a pressure forward. Can Wright and Lonie both play in the same team or is there room for only one of them?
There is little doubt match committee will run overtime this week, as the selectors squeeze more than 30 names into a final 22.
