Jack Billings might attract rival interest if Saints want to strengthen draft position
JACK Billings ranks elite for disposals and score assists. But in one vital area, the former No.3 draft pick is actually getting worse. Would a club closer to a premiership want him more than St Kilda?
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ST KILDA will test the definition of insanity by believing that Jack Billings will ever become a lethal finisher at goal.
The 22-year-old played another very Jack Billings game on Saturday, a 27-possession effort that should have been so much more.
Adding to his five tackles and eight inside 50s were a wasteful 1.3, which should surprise exactly zero St Kilda supporters.
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Billings has had 35 shots at goal this year for just 10 goals, a stunningly poor return for a player drafted as an exceptional kick of the football.
Of his 35 shots he has 10.18 and seven missed shots altogether, with the No.3 draft pick taking 11 set shots this year for 2.7 and two misses.
Champion Data’s deep dive into his kicks for goal this year shows from 40 metres plus, he has had 14 shots for a single goal.
And from all distances from the corridor — basically directly in front — he has taken 22 shots for five goals.
Last year he kicked 23.36 plus eight total misses — 34 per cent accuracy — and the year before it was 6.12, with five straight years of poor kicking.
Despite all his hard work, he is actually getting worse.
Billings ranks elite for disposals and score assists.
But to expect him to suddenly turn into a 40-goal a year forward is based on the loose definition of insanity — doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different results.
He doesn’t need his “feet to the flame”, as Simon Lethlean suggested of his underperforming players on Sunday, he needs a flame thrower.
He remains a handy, at times excellent footballer.
Yet the question remains for a St Kilda list desperate for elite A grade talent — would someone else closer to a premiership want him more than them?
Would it progress their list to turn a flanker who can’t kick goals into an elite midfielder or key back through a trade that gets them a top-15 pick?
So many decisions need to be made around Alan Richardson now that they have decided to stick with their senior coach next year.
The Herald Sun raised the prospect of Dan Hannebery arriving at St Kilda last week given the club’s clear interest.
It is exactly the kind of risk-taking venture they should be involved in given the only thing they have heaps of is salary cap room.
If it’s not him, it could be Alex Fasolo or Jamie Elliott to allow Jade Gresham to play midfield, although his 0.3 on Saturday was poor after an improved 30.15 this year.
But with pick 4, then their next pick at 57, there should only be a handful of their players that are absolutely untradeable.
They would include Jade Gresham, Ben Long, Josh Battle, Nick Coffield, Hunter Clark, Jack Steven, Jake Carlisle, Tim Membrey and Jimmy Webster.
St Kilda needs a star ruckmen, another key defender to complement Carlisle, midfielders who can hit targets as they burst from stoppages.
Luke Dunstan repeatedly blasted kicks over the head of leading forwards on Saturday, with none of David Armitage, Seb Ross or Jack Steele great by foot.
Jack Steven should be the best of them and his high kick to Carlisle cost them a win against GWS earlier this year.
The one thing they have are plenty of key forwards in Membrey, Patrick McCartin, Rowan Marshall, Battle and Josh Bruce.
Does Bruce turn into a backman again next year or would someone hand over plenty for them to restock another barren area of their list?
St Kilda can’t be up against the $9.3 million football department cap, so do they make assistant coaches Sam Mitchell or Blake Caracella an offer they can’t refuse?
It is impossible to really know what goes on in the St Kilda coaching box, but by Lethlean’s admission they need elite football minds to bolster Richardson’s man management strengths.
Nothing should be off the table, no one should feel safe, no risk should be considered too left-field.
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