AFL: St Kilda star Jack Billings to return from injury in the VFL as Saints prepare to face Port Adelaide in Cairns

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten is preparing for selection headaches in future weeks as some key players return in the VFL.

In-form St Kilda has received a significant boost ahead of Saturday night’s showdown with Port Adelaide in Cairns, with star Saint Jack Billings to return in the VFL this weekend.

Billings (hamstring) and Hunter Clark (shoulder) both went down in the Community Series game against Essendon in March and haven’t played since.

But Clark could resume at second-tier level next week, while Billings and Zak Jones (Covid) will push their senior cases with Sandringham against Frankston on Sunday.

Former skipper Jarryn Geary will also play in that match without a minutes restriction in further good news for Brett Ratten’s side.

“Zak’s partner had Covid, then he got Covid, so it started as seven days then turned into 10 and he’d played only one game in roughly six or seven weeks, so it was like, ‘We don’t need to rush him here’,” Ratten said.

Zak Jones will be back in action in the VFL on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“People recover a little bit different with Covid – some bounce back really quickly but we’ve found others take their time a bit, so we’ll just take it easy on him.

“We’re starting to get fairly healthy, touch wood, but it’s good those boys will be back.

“When you have a healthy list; it does put a lot of pressure on players and you don’t really have to say much, because everyone is there trying to hold their spot and perform at the level that‘s required.”

Paddy Ryder returns from suspension to lead the ruck division against his old side the Power, with journeyman Tom Campbell to back him up in the absence of Rowan Marshall (corked quad) and Jack Hayes (knee).

Campbell is onto his third AFL club after playing 54 games for the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne.

“He’s a competitor, Tom, and it is his third club but, as we know, ruckmen get better with age,” Ratten said.

“For him, at just 29, 30 years of age, there’s still a fair bit of footy in him.

Tom Campbell (left) will play his first AFL match for St Kilda on Saturday night. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s ready to go and he’s been playing good VFL footy, so we’ve got full faith in him that he’ll help Paddy get the job done there but he’s worked extremely hard since he’s been at our footy club.”

Ratten is wary of Port Adelaide despite its 1-5 record, pointing out its past month included single-digit defeats to Adelaide and Carlton, a win over West Coast and a loss to unbeaten reigning premier Melbourne.

Captain Jack Steele shared those sentiments.

“(Port Adelaide’s) been quite disappointing this year with some of their performances, but it’s not really reflective of how they’re playing,” Steele said.

“They’ve had some pretty close losses and we’re going to get ready for a real slog of a game.”

Originally published as AFL: St Kilda star Jack Billings to return from injury in the VFL as Saints prepare to face Port Adelaide in Cairns