Alan Richardson and his selection committee have swung the selection axe, making five changes ahead of the Saints’ Round 21 clash against Essendon this Friday night.

NAB Rising Star nominee Ben Long will return to senior footy for the first time since he suffered a fractured metatarsal in his right foot in Round 7, while youngster Ben Paton will make his senior debut.

Long played restricted minutes in the VFL a fortnight ago, but the promising Darwin product has trained strongly and his dynamism in the forward line could prove influential.

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Ben Paton has been named as the emergency ten times so far in 2018, and the ex-Murray Bushranger finally gets his chance at the big-time.

A big-bodied utility with the ability to win the hard ball as an inside midfielder, the 19-year-old looms as an exciting prospect for the Saints in years to come.

You’re up, Pato!

Ben Paton will make his AFL debut on Friday night. pic.twitter.com/og9gqLN3Cu

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) August 9, 2018

With both Tom Hickey and Billy Longer unavailable for the remainder of the season, St Kilda welcomes two young big men back into the fold in Rowan Marshall and Lewis Pierce.

Rowan Marshall boasts both height and athleticism, and his ability to rest from the ruckwork as a key forward will come in handy in place of the injured Josh Battle, who was unable to recover from a concussion.

Fellow tall Lewis Pierce will play just his second senior game – his first in over 2 years – having debuted for the Saints in Round 12, 2016.

Rounding out the inclusions for the Saints is Bailey Rice, the hard-nosed father-son selection whose improving ball use will play a crucial role exiting the back half.

Luke Dunstan, Nick Coffield and Hunter Clark have been omitted.

IN: Ben Paton, Bailey Rice, Lewis Pierce, Rowan Marshall, Ben Long
OUT: Josh Battle, Tom Hickey (both injured), Luke Dunstan, Nick Coffield, Hunter Clark