Midfield recruit Koby Stevens will make his first appearance in red, white and black after being named for Saturday’s clash against Hawthorn at University of Tasmania Stadium, along with emerging midfielder Jack Sinclair.
Inside midfielder Luke Dunstan and first-year small forward Ben Long have both been left out of the side, while American ruckman Jason Holmes and athletic wingman Daniel McKenzie have been named as emergencies.
Stevens landed at Linen House Centre last October after playing 74 games across seven seasons at the Western Bulldogs and West Coast, including 12 games in an injury interrupted final season at the kennel.
The hard-nosed onballer played the first two games of the JLT Community Series before suffering an untimely bout of food poisoning on the night before the Saints’ final pre-season fixture against Sydney in Albury. He then missed a few weeks while he regained his weight and has played the last three weeks in the VFL.
A week after Darren Minchington was rewarded for sustained form at Sandringham, young midfielder-forward Sinclair has also earned his first opportunity since Round 18 last year on the back of weight of numbers.
Sinclair, 22, has been one of the Zebras’ best players across the first fortnight, collecting 27 disposals and 13 tackles in Round 1, followed by 31 disposals and five tackles against Richmond last Saturday.
Saints ruckman Billy Longer returned for his first AFL game in 20 months last weekend and will face an even bigger test down south in the form of dual premiership ruckman Ben McEvoy, who is coming off a best on ground performance against West Coast.
Alan Richardson will be demanding a far more even spread of midfield contribution against Hawthorn, after his side was badly beaten around the ball by Geelong last weekend, easily losing contested ball (-24), inside 50s (-13) and clearances (-15). Seb Ross and Jack Steven led the way at Etihad Stadium, but other than that, the midfield was touched up by the Cats.
The Saints have played 10 games at University of Tasmania Stadium, formerly known as York Park, where they hold a 50 per cent winning record. In Round 4 last year, the Saints pushed Hawthorn all the way before falling by three-points in a thriller.
Round 6 Team v Hawthorn
Saturday April 29 at 1.45pm
University of Tasmania Stadium
B: Jarryn Geary, Nathan Brown, Jimmy Webster
HB: Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton
C: Jack Billings, Jack Steele, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jade Gresham, Nick Riewoldt, Maverick Weller
F: Darren Minchington, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey
R: Billy Longer, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
Interchange: Blake Acres, Sam Gilbert, Koby Stevens, Jack Sinclair
Emergencies: Luke Dunstan, Daniel McKenzie, Jason Holmes
IN: Koby Stevens, Jack Sinclair
OUT: Luke Dunstan (omitted), Ben Long (omitted)
