AFL 2023 practice matches: Every player rated from St Kilda v Essendon
Liam Stocker is firmly in the mix for a round 1 debut at St Kilda after impressing against Essendon. But, Brad Scott’s honeymoon is well and truly over. EVERY PLAYER RATED.
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Essendon has been brought back to earth by a St Kilda side missing a host of its stars in a scrappy pre-season match at Moorabbin.
The Bombers managed just three goals despite missing only Jake Stringer from their first-choice forward line, with new coach Brad Scott seemingly having much work still to do.
The Bombers kicked themselves out of the contest as they booted 3.14 (32) to 10.7 (67), with the Saints proving more hungry in the contest and more accurate in front of the big sticks on a blustery afternoon.
ROUND 1 BOLTERS
St Kilda appears to have uncovered a key forward to fill the void left by Max King’s absence in the early part of the season.
A pre-season supplemental selection period signing, Anthony Caminiti caught the eye against Essendon to further push his case for round 1 selection.
The 19-year-old, who measures 196cm tall, presented well and provided a contest in attack, in a forward line that was missing not only King (shoulder) but also Tim Membrey (knee), Matthew Allison (foot) and Jack Hayes (foot).
He finished with 11 disposals and four marks for the day.
St Kilda’s top draft pick from last year – Mattaes Phillipou – was also solid playing mostly in the forward line, racking up 15 disposals and a goal
Essendon father-son Alwyn Davey Jnr was a standout in attack for the Bombers, proving particularly lively in the first half and kicking his side’s first goal of the game.
FRESH INJURY BLOWS
Another injury was the last thing that St Kilda needed, but Marcus Winghager’s name has been added to what is an already sizeable injury list.
The second-year midfielder – who had been a standout on the track over summer – lasted just minutes before breaking his left hand in the first quarter of the clash.
Windhager iced his hand on the bench after coming off before finishing the day in a sling.
He will have surgery on Saturday, but is still expected to be available for the Saints’ round 1 clash against Fremantle.
Essendon midfielder Jye Caldwell had to be helped from the field after hurting his ankle in the final quarter.
He put no weight on the ankle as he was helped off the ground by club medical staff and played no further part in the game.
Caldwell had played 20 games last season, averaging 18.8 disposals.
MAGIC MARSHALL
Rowan Marshall finished second in St Kilda’s best and fairest in 2019 when he was the No.1 ruckman.
Then Paddy Ryder arrived at the club and Marshall was forced to spend significant time forward in the past three seasons.
But on the back of Ryder’s retirement at the end of last year, Marshall has returned as the main man in the ruck and looks to be relishing the role.
Marshall went head to head with Sam Draper for most of the game and while he didn’t take the honours in the hitout count, he did provide more around the ground.
The 27-year-old finished with 24 disposals and a lovely long range goal in the second quarter.
He looks set for a bumper year.
MASON FIRING
A big summer of running has set the scene for Mason Wood as he looks to lock down his new role on a wing.
Wood was one of the best on ground at RSEA Park with 28 disposals, 15 marks and a goal as he worked hard up and down one wing and continuously won plenty of the footy.
A one-time forward, Wood moved to the wing last year and looks to be only getting better in the new role.
NOTABLE ABSENTEES
St Kilda – Max King (shoulder), Nick Coffield, Zak Jones (Achilles), Seb Ross, Brad Hill (personal), Jack Hayes (foot), Jack Billings (leg), Tim Membrey (knee), Matthew Allison (foot)
Essendon – Kyle Langford, Elijahg Tsatas (knee), Ben Hobbs, Nik Cox, James Stewart, Dyson Heppell (foot), Jake Stringer (hamstring).
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