St Kilda will have two new players in Round 1, including a 28-year-old ruckman making his AFL debut

St Kilda won’t risk Zak Jones with wet conditions expected in Sydney on Sunday, but the Saints will unveil two new players against GWS

Paul Hunter will make his AFL debut on Sunday for St Kilda. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten had a smile as big as Luna Park when he happily confirmed on Friday that the last man added to his playing list would be making his AFL debut on Sunday.

Ruckman Paul Hunter was only signed in February and the 28-year-old’s long route to the AFL will be complete when he runs out against Greater Western Sydney.

Hunter will be joined by another mature-age recruit, 23-year-old defender Tom Highmore, with the duo completing their transition from SANFL teammates to AFL teammates.

With big men Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder both unavailable, Hunter, who was first drafted by the Adelaide Crows in 2016, became a must pick for Ratten who said he now had an opportunity to “make his mark” at St Kilda.

“The great thing about out game is there are so many stories about how you got an opportunity to play,” Ratten said on Friday.

“Some have had completely different paths and different challenges. Paul Hunter was playing for Redlands in the Queensland league a few years ago.

“He played for Adelaide, didn’t get a game, went up there, then went back to SA. Players have their own stories and have the chance to make a mark on their own AFL career.

“Both boys have waited for a fair chunk of time to get the opportunity.”

Tom Highmore will make his AFL debut against the Giants on Sunday.

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) March 19, 2021

Ratten confirmed Jade Gresham would play but said the Saints wouldn’t risk speedster Zak Jones, who is still getting over a hamstring strain, in a game likely to be played in extremely wet conditions.

“Zak hasn’t done enough. He was close but he missed a little bit of running during the week,” Ratten said.

“With some of the injuries we’ve got we don’t need to take another risk. It’s a long year, he’s a quality player and very valuable. We need to take fit men into Round 1.

“There’s going to be 120mm of rain on Saturday up there. We’re thinking of taking a boat up as well just to get to the ground. It’s going to be really wet.

“It’s going to be a contest game and we are going to have to apply ourselves.”

The Saints will also be without star young forward Max King after he was hit in the head by a golf ball.

Ratten said he was still coming to terms with how that incident unfolded.

“I was on the phone to the doc and waiting for the Benny Hill music to come over the top. It was unbelievable,” he said.

“I did say to Max the other day that he’ll be able to write a little chapter in his book in 15 years time.

“But that’s footy and that’s life. His welfare is the most important thing and he wasn’t quite right.”

Originally published as St Kilda will have two new players in Round 1, including a 28-year-old ruckman making his AFL debut