AFL 2022: Gary Buckenara analyses the St Kilda list at the end of the 2022 season
The Saints are in need of midfield help to have a chance at a finals run, so is the answer bringing Matt Crouch in to join his brother?
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St Kilda fans must be getting impatient – and I don’t blame them.
In Brett Ratten’s fourth season at the club, the Saints missed the September party again.
The Saints showed good form – at times – in 2022, but they remain too inconsistent with their performances.
They are a bit like the proverbial box of chocolates; you’re never too sure what team you’re going to get from week to week.
The Saints probably haven’t had the best run with injuries, but all clubs can point to players that have missed as an excuse.
The biggest issue is the quality of top-end talent compared to the top-four sides and their skill execution going forward is also a concern.
They have an A-grade ruckman in Rowan Marshall – now with the stage to himself after the retirement of Paddy Ryder – who can win stoppages, but the Saints are unable to capitalise by hand or foot going forward.
Overall, the Saints have been a let-down again in 2022. This group, as it stands, is not capable of being a serious challenger or winning a flag.
If they are to have any chance of becoming a contender in the next couple of years, they will need to improve their skill level and decision making, which can be hard to do.
Adding elite, skilled players via the draft and through trade is one way but it takes time to integrate them into the team.
The Saints have already farewelled four players from their list with the retirements of Jarryn Geary, Dan Hannebery, Dean Kent and Ryder.
It’s time for the Saints to invest in more players through the draft as their stocks of 21-and- under players is too low.
They have invested in recycled players and traded players for them, which hasn’t always paid off.
Investing in players via the draft and developing them, rather than going for depth players needs to be the list management plan.
Brad Hill, Ryder, Zak Jones and Dougal Howard all added to the list, but it is time to have a look at highly skilled and footy-smart young players.
Captain Jack Steele leads the Saints’ A-grade players, while young forward Max King has developed quickly into top-line talent.
King is the kind of young star a club can build a flag-winning team around and the Saints would want to make sure they don’t waste too many of his burgeoning years.
Jack Sinclair’s All-Australian season elevates him to A-grade status, while Jack Billings’ talent defied an injury-hit year when he was restricted to just eight senior games.
HOW THE RATINGS WORK
At a club level, player ranking is generally based on gradings of A+, A, B+, B, C+, C and the developing players.
My rankings will focus on A, B, C and for the developing 20-year-old and under players will be rated as rising stars (RS) and those that need more time (NMT).
With the younger players, it is important to consider who is coming through and those who need longer to develop.
The most important areas for clubs to look at is how many A and B ranked players they have as well as the rising stars, who I believe should be A and B-grade players in the future.
A
Seb Ross, 29, 187cm, 86kg
Jack Steele, 26, 187cm, 91kg
Max King, 21, 202cm, 97kg
Jack Billings, 26, 185cm, 82kg
Rowan Marshall, 26, 201cm, 105kg
Jack Sinclair, 27, 181cm, 82kg
Callum Wilkie, 26, 191cm, 88kg
B
Nick Coffield, 22, 191cm, 88kg
Zak Jones, 27, 182cm, 80kg
Jade Gresham, 24, 177cm, 80kg
Brad Crouch, 28, 186cm, 85kg
Hunter Clark, 23, 186cm, 83kg
Dan Butler, 26, 182cm, 80kg
Bradley Hill, 28, 182cm, 80kg
Dougal Howard, 26, 199cm, 97kg
Ben Long, 24, 183cm, 80kg
Jack Higgins, 23, 178cm, 79kg
Josh Battle, 23, 193cm, 92kg
Tim Membrey, 28, 188cm, 88kg
Jimmy Webster, 28, 188cm, 84kg
Daniel McKenzie, 26, 184cm, 83kg
C
Ryan Byrnes, 21, 180cm, 81kg
Jack Bytel, 22, 189cm, 84kg
Jarrod Lienert, 27, 195cm, 88kg
Mason Wood R, 28, 192cm, 87kg
Ben Paton, 23, 186cm, 83kg
Tom Highmore, 24, 193cm, 89kg
Tom Campbell, 30, 201cm, 105cm
Cooper Sharman R, 21, 193cm, 83kg
Jack Hayes, 25, 193cm, 91kg
Developing (20 years and under)
Rising stars:
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, 19, 187cm, 71kg
Marcus Windhager, 19, 185cm, 85kg
Needs more time:
Mitch Owens, 18, 190cm, 85kg
Oscar Adams, 18, 197cm, 85kg
Matthew Allison, 20, 195cm, 79kg
Leo Connolly, 20, 181cm, 78kg
Max Heath R, 19, 204cm, 93kg
Jack Peris R, 18, 176cm, 69kg
Josiah Kyle R, 18, 182cm, 72kg
LIST BREAKDOWN
A-Grade: 7
B-Grade: 14
C-Grade: 9
Rising stars: 2
Need more time: 7
Retired: Jarryn Geary, Dan Hannebery, Dean Kent, Paddy Ryder,
Delisted:
Darragh Joyce
LIST NEEDS
St Kilda’s list, with 23 A, B and rising star players, has got depth but inconsistent efforts still hurt them. The Saints have some promising C-grade players who have emerged from the development categories and hopefully some will continue to develop into A or B-graders in the next few years. I think Tom Highmore and Jack Hayes can definitely elevate themselves with a decent run at it next season. But the number of development players remains too low and they need to invest in this draft to bolster to ensure the future of their list. The Saints need to focus on players with elite kicking skills as this lets the team down far too often going forward. They can win the stoppages well, but too frequently butcher the ball entering F50. This is one reason why players such as Brad Crouch and Zak Jones are rated B grade.
TRADE TARGETS
The Saints have been courting Jordan De Goey, whose future remains in the air. Even though he had a good finals series, my advice would be buyer beware. Has the leopard changed his spots? At his best on the field, De Goey would be an A-grade pick-up and worth a first-round selection. But will he ever realise his immense talent? It’s a big contract they would need to offer and for me it’s a ‘no’. It’s too big a risk to take if it goes pear-shaped. That’s not to say the Saints shouldn’t keep their options open to who else might become available during the trade period, especially if there is a good midfielder with pace and elite foot skills on offer. Maybe they could bring in Matt Crouch to join his brother? Despite a knock on his kicking, I think he uses the ball well, although he doesn’t have great leg speed. The upside is he wouldn’t cost them anything.
TRADE BAIT
The Saints have a lot of A and B-ranked players, so I would be testing the market to see who might tempt rival clubs in a bid to get another early pick. Brad Hill is open to exploring his options to join a fourth club, while Ben Long wants to continue his career at the Gold Coast Suns. But the Saints won’t get early picks for either of those players; maybe a second-round for Hill given salary considerations and a third-round for Long. Nick Coffield, Jade Gresham or Hunter Clark might appeal to some clubs, but their recruiting team has to weigh up the benefits versus the negatives of trading these types of players and what they can get in return. But I think the Saints have to explore these options, especially when the list, as it stands, is unlikely to win them a flag.
The Saints need a first-round pick for Hunter Clark who has long been considered their best young talent alongside Max King.
It’s the same story with Nick Coffield and Jade Gresham, it has to be an early pick if the Saints are going to win out on this deal. If not, then they are better off holding the young talent as they aren’t flushed with it.
CRYSTAL BALL
The Saints are at the crossroads now with this list. They either have to back them in to win a premiership in the next few years, or make some bold decisions and rejuvenate the list with young talent and trade out some players to get more early picks in a strong draft. Personally, I don’t think this list is capable of winning a premiership and they need to make some big calls. They might need to take some steps backwards to move forwards towards a flag. The Saints need to get into the next draft and bring in some young talent with elite skills and competitiveness. Having two great ruckmen on their list – before Ryder’s retirement – was a great weapon for the Saints. They won stoppages, but too often wasted opportunities with poor disposals. They need to address this if they are to become a genuine contender in 2023 and beyond. The club also needs to look at their list management and recruiting team. Getting early picks is one thing, but if you recruit the wrong young talent and trade out experience it can push a list back years. It has been far too long since the Saints had a premiership-contending list. It’s time to act, or pay the price.
Originally published as AFL 2022: Gary Buckenara analyses the St Kilda list at the end of the 2022 season
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