Stevens set to restart career in Tasmania
After an interrupted start to his time at Linen House Centre, big-bodied midfielder Koby Stevens will make his first appearance for St Kilda in Tasmania on Saturday. After four years at Whitten Oval and three in Perth with West Coast, the 25-year-old crossed from the Western Bulldogs last October in a last minute deal in exchange for some later picks. After playing the opening two games of the JLT Community Series, Stevens missed the final practice match in Albury due to a bout of food poisoning that sidelined him for three weeks. Stevens replaces Luke Dunstan in the engine room after playing the last three weeks at Sandringham, bolstering a midfield that was comprehensively beaten by Geelong in the second half last Sunday. Watch this space.
Sinclair bangs the door down for another chance
A week after Darren Minchington bust open the door for another chance at AFL level, Jack Sinclair has also been rewarded for his sustained form at Sandringham. After playing 18 games in his debut season, the former rookie didn’t earn the same level of opportunity in 2016, playing 10 games for the year and only two after the midway point. But after dominant performances at VFL level, where Zebras Coach Lindsay Gilbee has repeatedly said he is a cut above that class, Sinclair heads to Launceston in form and with a point to prove. The 22-year-old has been one of Sandringham’s best performers across the first fortnight of the season, finishing with 31 disposals against Richmond on the weekend, a week after he gathered 27 touches and laid 13 tackles against Essendon in Round 1. Just like Minchington last week, can Sinclair grasp his opportunity and put his name on a spot forward of centre?
Can Hawthorn’s fortress be penetrated?
The last time Hawthorn lost in Launceston was in Round 5, 2012 – 19 wins ago. And before that, the Hawks hadn’t lost in two years at the venue, meaning they’ve won 26 of their last 27 at University of Tasmania Stadium, or York Park as it was formerly known as. But as Alan Richardson mentioned in his press conference on Friday morning, the Saints take confidence from their performance 12 months ago, where they lost in a thriller by three-points. And while St Kilda’s spirited performance in Perth last month was impressive, it wasn’t a win and confined the Saints to their tenth straight loss on interstate soil. Between that win at the Gabba in Round 9, 2015, and now, the Saints have struggled to get the job done outside Victoria. If they want to feature in September this year and beyond, winning away from home will need to become part of their repertoire. Hopefully, it starts on Sunday in Tasmania against the brown and gold.
Marquee Hawks pose contested ball threat
A week after being touched up by Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and the Cats’ cavalry, St Kilda will be looking to respond around the ball. The Saints have lost all but one of the contested ball counts across the first five rounds of 2017 and were resoundingly beaten by + 36 contested possessions in the second half alone last Sunday. While Hawthorn hasn’t been strong in this facet of the game for almost the duration of the Alistair Clarkson dynasty, two players who weren’t part of that era are now part of their engine room: Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell. Both players go to work at the coal face and both sit at the top end of contested ball winners in the competition. After missing the last fortnight with a knee issue, O’Meara returns for his fourth appearance in brown and gold and is averaging 12.7 contested possessions (No. 21 in the AFL), to go with 24.3 disposals. Mitchell, who landed at Waverley Park after 65 games at Sydney, is averaging more disposals than any other player in the competition (34.2) and is ranked No. 11 for contested ball (14.4).
