ST KILDA has made a total of six changes to its team ahead of Sunday’s round 19 match against Fremantle.
As reported yesterday, Nick Riewoldt, Jack Lonie and Sam Gilbert will all return to the senior team.
They will be joined by Blake Acres, Seb Ross and Nathan Wright, with Cameron Shenton named as an emergency alongside Adam Schneider and Tim Membrey
The team changes mean St Kilda will enter Sunday’s encounter fielding 10 players who have played 42 games or less.
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Ross is one of these 10, and his inclusion is a direct result of recent form at VFL level, according to assistant coach Adam Kingsley.
“Seb has been really good at Sandringham and with Luke Dunstan missing out, he gets another opportunity to come in and perform,” Kingsley told SAINTS.com.au.
“He will play inside and up forward. He is a big body and is going to be able to compete with Fremantle’s bigger midfielders.”
Ross makes a good replacement for Luke Dunstan (rested) in the midfield, while the same can be said for Wright’s inclusion for the injured Jimmy Webster (groin) in defence.
“Nathan’s form has been strong and he has been playing for a winning team in Sandringham so that helps,” Kingsley said.
“He is doing a good job at half-back and occasionally pushing up to the wing. He has the ability to lock down on a player and use his attack.”
ROUND 19: Match day info
And then there is Blake Acres – a precociously talented young ball-winner who has demonstrated his adaptability and x-factor this season following an injury interrupted 2014.
Kingsley said Acres’ most recent outing against Richmond in the VFL a fortnight ago holds him in good stead for Sunday’s game.
“Blake’s game against the Tigers two weeks ago was really strong with three goals from the midfield,” he said.
“He used the ball well and we like what he gives us. He is another tall mid who can play inside and outside which makes him pretty important when you take on Fremantle.”
Acres and Ross have each played five senior games this season, while Wright has only played three.
The six players making way are Billy Longer (soreness), Jimmy Webster (groin), Luke Dunstan (soreness), Eli Templeton (omitted), Tim Membrey (omitted) and Adam Schneider (omitted).
“Billy Longer and Luke Dunstan are both in collision positions and they get whacked every week,” Kingsley said.
“They’ve both pulled up sore from the weekend. Billy got the knock to the head and he’s come up well but his body needs a week off. Luke has been plugging along for a while now and we are keen to rest him up and let him recover.
“Eli has played the last few senior games but with Jack Lonie coming back in, we feel that he owns that spot up forward so Eli will go back to Sandringham.”
Head down to Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday to support Sandringham against Port Melbourne in the VFL. The first bounce is at 1pm.
FEATURE: Rise with the Shinner, fly with the Saints
B: Geary Fisher Dempster
HB: Newnes Goddard Gilbert
C: Savage Armitage Roberton
HF: Montagna Riewoldt Sinclair
F: Lonie Bruce McCartin
FOLL: Hickey Steven Weller
I/C: Ross, Acres, Wright, McKenzie
EMERGENCIES: Schneider, Membrey, Shenton
In: Riewoldt, Gilbert, Ross, Wright, Acres, Lonie
Out: Webster (groin), Longer (Soreness), Dunstan (Soreness), Templeton (Omitted), Schneider (Omitted), Membrey (Omitted)
