St Kilda star Jack Steven in race against time to be fit for Round 1 after suffering ankle injury

STAR midfielder Jack Steven has sent a major scare through the St Kilda camp after the ball winner suffered an ankle injury during Thursday night’s JLT Series clash against Melbourne, the Saints’ final hitout before Round 1.

Jack Steve has injured his ankle against Melbourne. Picture: Getty

STAR St Kilda midfielder Jack Steven is in a race against time to be for the season-opener after rolling his ankle in the Saints’ 26-point loss to Melbourne.

The gun ball-winner had to be helped off Casey Fields on Thursday night after hurting his left ankle in a third-term tangle with Demon Jake Melksham.

Steven is confident he will be fit for the Saints’ season opener against Brisbane at Etihad Stadium but the injury sent a major scare through the camp with that game a fortnight away.

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“Yeah I’ll be right, I think I played it up a bit so I’m a little bit embarrassed,” he told Fox Footy.

“I should be right.

“It’s just a rolled ankle so I’ll be sweet.”

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said the early diagnosis for Steven, who had to be helped from the field by trainers and took no further part in the game, was positive and the club is confident he will be available to play.

Jack Steven injured his ankle in the loss. Picture: Getty

“He put us all into a bit of a tailspin,” he said.

“It looks like he will be much more likely (to play) than not (in Round 1).

“It’s a sprain, which is pleasing.

“Clearly we have to wait and see, but it looked worse than it was.”

Steven was taken into the rooms immediately after leaving the field before later emerging with a big ice pack on his ankle.

He watched the final term of his side’s loss from the bench and appeared unfazed by the injury after the match despite limping.

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The 27-year-old had been one of his team’s best players on the night, collecting 19 disposals before injury struck.

Steven is a crucial player for the Saints given he is an attacking weapon in the midfield.

He is determined to bounce back from a modest season where he finished sixth in the best and fairest award last season from 20 games.

The injury was an unwelcome setback for the Saints, who fought back from another poor first half on Thursday night with a six-goal comeback in the third term.

Jack Steven is confident he’ll be fit to play in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

Still, Richardson will demand a lift from his Saints in the season-opener after rounding out a patchy JLT Series, including last week’s poor first-up loss to Carlton.

Melbourne’s 26-point win on Thursday night continued its commanding preseason campaign including its AFLX tournament victory and a 53-point smashing of North Melbourne.

The club was criticised for ditching a preseason camp due to player safety concerns late last year.

But coach Simon Goodwin said he was delighted with the summer campaign so far and said the players would take “great belief” into the season.

“We still understand it’s a marathon and we haven’t even got to the start line but it’s pretty exciting for the group that we are developing,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin said the only blemish was a one-goal third term.

“I thought our start was outstanding, it really set the game up for us,” he said.

Melbourne players celebrate a goal during their 26-point win. Picture: Getty

“Obviously there is still some stuff we need to work on but the maturity of the guys the way we steadied at three quarter time and got the game back the way we wanted it.

“And we finished off the game really strongly.”

Goodwin faces a several selection headaches for the Round 1 clash against Geelong with co-captain Jack Viney pressing to return from a foot injury and Alex Neal-Bullen also in the frame.

Tom McDonald was also a late withdrawal on Thursday night with a minor toe problem, while his brother Oscar went off in the second term with some back tightness.

Goodwin hailed the performance of new recruit Jake Lever.

“I thought his first half was outstanding,” Goodwin said.

“He really set us up in the first half and he is a really difficult player to get through defensively.

“He is a great communicator down there and he impacts the ball when it comes into his area.”