If Jack Newnes doesn’t get up for Saturday’s encounter with the Western Bulldogs, or the match committee at Linen House Centre decides to make some changes after last weekend’s poor performance, who will the Saints bring in?
Experienced half-back Shane Savage is one option and could help resolve the kicking woes out of the back half that was punished by Sydney at Etihad Stadium.
Savage, 26, has spent the last five weeks at Sandringham where he has amassed plenty of the ball across half-back and on a wing, averaging 29.6 disposals.
Lindsay Gilbee has named Savage as his best player in two of the last three weeks, including on the weekend where he finished with 29 possessions.
Alan Richardson might look at an untried option in the form of father-son recruit Bailey Rice, who has been banging on the door for some time now.
Just like Savage, Rice is in a rich vein of form at VFL level, having been named amongst the best players for the last five consecutive weeks.
Has he done enough to earn an opportunity at the highest level?
Key forward Josh Bruce went back to Sandringham last weekend and didn’t quite set the world on fire but would still be in the selection mix if the Saints want more firepower in attack.
Second-year rookie Nick O’Kearney followed up his career-best performance last week with another eye-catching effort at Preston City Oval.
The midfielder-forward collected 29 possessions against the Northern Blues to be one of the Zebras’ key contributors.
