WITH another pre-season over, what can Saints fans take away heading into round one?

Invariably there are questions aplenty at this time of the year. With spots up for grabs, a new coach with a fresh approach and an abundance of youngsters, the NAB Challenge provided St Kilda supporters with a glimpse to the future.

But despite the importance of giving experience to the kids, St Kilda’s older brigade remains rock solid in their determination to push the club back up into finals contention.

Achieving this balance won’t be an easy task, but one that Richardson is committed to undertaking. The very best clubs have a constantly evolving playing list, mixing up-and-comers with measured and seasoned professionals.

With all this in mind, what can we gather from the NAB Challenge, intra-club and other practice games?

The best performers
David Armitage
A leader of the midfield group, Armitage’s game continues to go from strength to strength. He’s not yet a consistent prolific ball-winner, although he does win his fair share of it, rather his biggest asset is his strength in the clinches.  

He laid six tackles in Geelong against the Bulldogs, and a further six in Wagga Wagga against GWS. At 25 years of age and with 92 games under his belt, the left-footer’s pre-season form confirmed he’s ready to take the next step in 2014.

Jarryn Geary
Geary is held in the highest regard internally, and he has only just begun to get the recognition he deserves externally, following two top-10 finishes in the best and fairest.

He’s spent more time in the midfield this pre-season, collecting 20 disposals against GWS and four inside 50s. While he is naturally a defensively minded footballer, Geary’s speed and tackling pressure make him a perfectly viable engine room option heading in the season proper.

Tom Hickey
Hickey is now St Kilda’s undisputed number one ruckman, and has provided a valuable aerial presence in each of the three NAB Challenge games.

In conditions hardly suited to a 201cm tap-ruckman, Hickey got the better of 2013 All-Australian Will Minson in the hit out department in NAB Challenge 1, and matched it with Shane Mumford in NAB Challenge 2.

The newcomers
Jack Billings
He’s showed glimpses of class this pre-season and will push for a senior birth at some point in 2014. What remains to be seen is how his body, after an interrupted pre-season, will hold up to the rigours of AFL football.

Billings picked up 15 disposals against GWS at 80 per cent efficiency and gradually eased his way into the contest against the Bulldogs.
The number three draft pick is far from the finished product but possesses enormous talent and plenty of speed to burn too.

Luke Dunstan
What about this boy, err teenager, err man?

He may be just 19 years old, but already Dunstan shapes as a regular in St Kilda’s best team. His 22 disposals against GWS included 15 contested possessions, seven clearances and five inside 50s.

He was equally impressive against Port Adelaide and given his physical make-up, Dunstan looks to be a ready-made senior midfielder.

Shane Savage
Was excellent early against the Bulldogs and continued his game-breaking style of football throughout the NAB Challenge.
Savage looks to be relishing the responsibility thus far, and shapes as an integral member of the Saints midfield department.

Luke Delaney & Josh Bruce
Full backs are often the unsung and underrated heroes of a football team, and these two are no different. Their job isn’t to provide rebound or even get the ball at all. Put simply, this duo were recruited to stop their direct opponent, and to this end they have enjoyed a promising pre-season.

Delaney looks to be slightly ahead of Bruce in the pecking order at the moment, although both players are likely to play significant roles at some stage in 2014.

Eli Templeton
Two toe-poke goals against the Bulldogs and a distinctive mop of hair catapulted Templeton to cult-figure status immediately.
At just 73kgs, the Tasmanian is the lightest player on St Kilda’s list and proved to be a handful for opposition defenders this pre-season – burrowing and weaving his way in and out of traffic on a regular basis.

His long locks make the teenager instantly identifiable and he shapes as one of the club’s most promising small forwards.

Billy Longer
The former Lion was competitive in the ruck against the Western Bulldogs and impressive against the Giants, but missed St Kilda’s final hit out in Alberton with a gluteal strain.

The former No.8 draft pick is still learning his craft, but is likely to get some valuable game-time this year alongside Tom Hickey in the ruck.
The game style
Alan Richardson has placed a strong emphasis on the defensive side of the game this summer, with tackling a primary focus for the Saints coach.

Although the pre-season competition provides a small sample size, it is clear that Richardson’s message has filtered through.

The Saints ranked 17th for tackles per game in 2013 and 1st during the 2014 NAB Challenge. Similarly, St Kilda finished in the top three for pressure acts after struggling in this department last season.

But how will Richardson direct his team to play when they have possession?

Like most teams, the Saints ball movement will depend largely on where and how they win the ball off the opposition.

Throughout the pre-season, good offensive statistics such as running bounces and short kicks have coincided with strong defensive stats.

Richardson’s game style is still developing, but one thing he has reiterated all summer is that he wants St Kilda to be very difficult to play against.

The injuries
Jack Steven's broken foot was initially believed to be more serious than it was, and should only sideline the 2013 best and fairest for the first month of the season. Meanwhile Sam Fisher and Adam Schneider both have back issues and are expected to return a few weeks into the year.

Sam Gilbert has recovered especially well from a foot injury, while Daniel Markworth is back playing after missing the entire 2013 campaign.

Youngster Blake Acres will have to bide his time, as will Lewis Pierce. The latter has been placed on the long-term injury list and is likely to be sidelined for 7-8 weeks.

You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32