From the backline: St Kilda's best 22

HERALD Sun football experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

Sam Fisher will be a welcome addition to the Saints' backline next season after missing much of 2013 through injury.

HERALD Sunfootball experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

ST KILDA

IN:

Shane Savage (Hawthorn, midfielder)

Luke Delaney (North Melbourne, key defender)

Billy Longer (Brisbane Lions, ruckman)

Josh Bruce (GWS Giants, defender)

Jack Billings (Oakleigh Chargers, forward)

Luke Dunstan (Woodville-West Torrens, midfielder)

Blake Acres (West Perth, forward)

Eli Templeton (Burnie, midfielder)

Maverick Weller (Gold Coast, midfielder)

Jason Holmes (international rookie, ruckman)

JOLLY SIGNS AT THE SAINTS

OUT:

Ben McEvoy (Hawthorn)

Nick Dal Santo (North Melbourne)

Stephen Milne (ret)

Jason Blake (ret)

Justin Koschitzke (ret)

Ahmed Saad (susp)

Tom Ledger (delisted)

Jay Lever (delisted)

Jackson Ferguson (delisted)

Jordan Stanley (delisted)

News_Rich_Media: Classy Oakleigh Chargers midfielder/forward Jack Billings will hope his distribution and polish around goal will prove too much for clubs to refuse in this year's AFL Draft.

COACHES

Alan Richardson (senior coach)

David Teague (defensive coach)

Adam Kingsley (midfield coach)

Danny Sexton (midfield coach)

Aaron Hamill (forward line coach).

BEST 22

B: Jarryn Geary (25, 93 games), Luke Delaney (24, 26 games), Sean Dempster (29, 160 games)

HB: Dylan Roberton (22, 57 games), Sam Fisher (31, 191 games), Jack Newnes (20, 25 games)

C: Farren Ray (27, 176 games), Lenny Hayes (33, 277 games), Shane Savage (22, 56 games)

HF: Leigh Montagna (30, 212 games), Nick Riewoldt (31, 259 games), Rhys Stanley (23, 39 games)

F: Arryn Siposs (21, 25 games), Tom Lee (22, 10 games), Adam Schneider (29, 200 games)

R: Tom Hickey (22, 24 games), David Armitage (25, 92 games), Jack Steven (23, 73 games)

INT: Billy Longer (20, 9 games), Sam Gilbert (27, 140 games), Nathan Wright (19, 8 games) Jimmy Webster (20, 11 games)

READY TO FLY

JACK Newnes could be one of the best value picks of the 2011 draft. Taken at No.37, the slick and versatile outside ball-carrier can provide the kind of run and polish the Saints crave from half-back/wing.

His application and attitude are also welcome attributes at a club craving fresh leadership. His pre-season training in Colorado points to a breakout third season next year.

It might be another challenging campaign for the transitioning Saints, but Newnes will be up for the fight. Expect him to become a bit of a go-to man breaking the lines from half-back.

News_Image_File: Jack Newnes in action.

HOW THE SAINTS WILL PLAY

THE good news is the Saints should be better down back, with a couple of stoppers in Luke Delaney and Josh Bruce and the return of Sam Fisher to help curb the goalkickers. But the midfield lacks depth and the attacking set-up still hinges too heavily on Nick Riewoldt.

New coach Alan Richardson has a high reputation for developing talent (see Port Adelaide) but will have to start work with Rhys Stanley and Arryn Siposs who look set to claim early berths in the forward line.

It will be up to midfielders Jack Steven, David Armitage and ex-Hawk Shane Savage to increase the forward-50 supply, after ranking third-last for entries last season. The ray of sunshine might come in the form of unseen explosive forward flanker Daniel Markworth and new draftee Luke Dunstan, an Ollie Wines-type on-baller.