Gary Buckenara analyses St Kilda’s list after the 2016 season, says Nick Dal Santo would be a good fit
COULD Nick Dal Santo return to St Kilda? Respected list manager Gary Buckenara believes the delisted Kangaroo would be ideal off half-back.
ST KILDA is definitely on the right track and if I was a Saints member I’d be starting to save up for finals tickets.
Last year I wrote that a lot of the improvement at the Saints would depend on the development of its younger players. They have definitely come on and taken strides this year but there’s more improvement to come in a lot of them.
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I like what they’ve done in terms of their list management - they’ve got a fairly even list. The Saints have good ruck strength and depth, they don’t have stars in defence but have a solid back six that’s flexible, as well as a very good forward line.
The key is they have players who are back-ups in those positions like Hugh Goddard who is a highly-rated key position player who can go forward or back and Paddy McCartin has shown glimpses but there’s more improvement in him.
Nick Riewoldt has been amazing in how he’s reinvented himself and kept playing at a high level, Josh Bruce has come in and really added something to their forward line. And Jake Carlisle is coming back and will be a key defender.
I thought Jarryn Geary was under the pump last year but I take my hat off to him, he’s impressed me and plays an important role for them.
The balance of their midfield is good - they have both tall and small inside players but they probably need better users of the ball on the outside. Shane Savage is a good outside player across halfback with a penetrating kick but they need more players with elite ball use.
That’s why I want to raise a question: Would Nick Dal Santo be well-suited as a rebound defender at St Kilda?
Absolutely. Getting Dal Santo back would be an ideal result for the Saints and for Nick himself.
He has a love for the club and he’s exactly the type of player Alan Richardson could use across half-back because his kicking skills are elite. And for him to go back to the club where it all started, that would be a great story.
If I was at St Kilda I’d definitely be talking to him. He’d be well received, I think, from the St Kilda faithful. He can help them get back into the finals, which would be a great way to finish his career.
He could come in ahead of Jimmy Webster, who is another rebound defender but he plays too loose.
He finds the ball OK and his kicking is good but I think he’s taken a few steps back from where he was last year and Dal Santo would be an upgrade on him.
WHAT THEY NEED
The Saints need more outside players with speed and endurance who are elite ball users. Kicking skills are probably the main area that needs addressing because as I’ve said, they’re pretty well set for ruckmen and key position players.
WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP?
Tom Lee would have to be under the pump he showed some signs but was then dropped a few times so if he gets another go he need to show a bit more.
Cameron Shenton didn’t get a look in at all at senior level and Brodie Murdoch’s career seems to have stalled. Brandon White was taken with pick No. 40 in last year’s draft, which wasn’t a very deep one, so he needs to show signs in his second year.
Then there’s Nathan Freeman who was restricted to playing VFL reserves at the back end of the year after more hamstring setback after crossing from Collingwood. I saw him play at North Ballarat and he looked a long way off it. He looked quite pedestrian and a bit overweight. It’s understandable; he’s had so many hamstring injuries so he’s probably a bit shy.
It’s that mental battle - it’s a big scar he’s going to have to get over. Is he using his pace, which was his weapon? If not, that brings him back to being just an average player rather than a good player because he’s not using his strength.
WHO SHOULD GO
Luke Delaney, Tom Curren, Josh Saunders and Brenton Payne have already been delisted but to me Shenton’s time is probably up, I think players have gone past him now and it shows because he played the whole season in the VFL.
CRYSTAL BALL
St Kilda will be knocking on the door of finals next year and are a definite chance of making it. This year they were more the surprise packet who was unlikely despite being in the mix because of what happened at North Melbourne. Next year is a different story - they’ll definitely be up there. I think they’re a side in the 5-10 bracket in terms of ladder position. If they have luck with injuries and keep the majority of their good players on the park, recruit and draft well again, then I think the Saints are on the way up for sure.
Originally published as Gary Buckenara analyses St Kilda’s list after the 2016 season, says Nick Dal Santo would be a good fit