St Kilda head into 2022 after a rollercoaster season last year relegated them to tenth place and an awfully uneventful September.
With Brett Ratten entering his third season in charge and Jack Steele shaping up to have yet another inspirational season, many are wondering what version of St Kilda we are going to see on the field this season.
INS/OUTSย
In: Tom Campbell, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Mitchito Owens, Marcus Windhager, Oscar Adams, Jack Peris, Josiah Kyle, Jack Hayes
Out: Jake Carlisle, James Frawley, Shaun McKernan, Dylan Roberton, Oscar Clavarino, Sam Alabakis, Luke Dunstan, Paul Hunter, Jack Lonie
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Strengthsย
Key position playersย
The Saints were confident they had found a player for the future in Max King when they drafted him with pick 4 in 2018, and the 21-year-old has shown plenty of potential during his 38 games with the Saints.
In 2021, the young key forward kicked 38 goals and seemed to gain some confidence playing alongside Tim Membrey. 27-year-old Membrey continued to impress last year, booting 34 goals of his own in an increasingly stable forward line set up.
Down back, the Saints seem to have found a solid pairing in Callum Wilkie and Dougal Howard. Wilkie, pick number 2 in the 2018 rookie draft, is yet to miss a game in Saints colours since his 2019 debut and was rewarded for his hard work with a fourth placed finish in the Saints best and fairest last year.
Howard, who moved to the Saints from Port Adelaide at the end of 2019, has made a strong impression at his new club two years in, elevated to vice captain and finishing in the top ten of the best and fairest two years in both years. The two, who combined for an impressive 228 marks and 237 intercept possessionsย last year, are incredibly invaluable to the Saints.
With the key positions in the forward and back 50s in good hands, and Rowan Marshall continuing to improve in the ruck, there's no doubt that the Saints are well
With King and Membrey firing in the forward line and Wilkie and Howard continuing to hold down the defence, while young gun Rowan Marshall continues to develop in the ruck as the club's long term prospect, there's no doubt that the Saints are well stocked in their key position talent and will be expecting this group to help their ascent up the ladder.
