St Kilda’s Jack Steele says Paddy McCartin is ready to have a breakout year for the Saints

HE came into the league as the No.1 pick in the draft and now, after multiple injury ruined seasons, Paddy McCartin is ready to live up to top billing in 2018. But how good can he be?

Paddy McCartin is ready for a big year. Picture: Mark Wilson

ST KILDA spearhead Paddy McCartin is ready to have a breakout year after three seasons of nightmare concussion and injury problems, according to teammate Jack Steele.

McCartin, 21, bagged two goals and could have jagged four if not for a skewed set shot and a grassed uncontested mark in the Saints’ disappointing 22-point loss to Carlton on Wednesday night.

The 2014 No. 1 draft pick and budding full-forward is a key plank in the Saints’ plans to make their first finals appearance in six years and has hit career-best fitness levels.

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Steele also lauded the pre-season performances of first-year gems Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield, backing them to contend strongly for a Round 1 guernsey against the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on March 24.

Half-back Coffield had 20 possessions and half-forward Clark nailed two goals in impressive first-up showings.

But Steele said the 194cm McCartin was ready to mature into a legitimate AFL goalkicker after 22 goals in his first 22 games.

Paddy McCartin takes a shot at goal during the JLT Series. Picture: AAP Images

“It was great to see him back and you saw that he can really take a mark, so it was great to see that his confidence was back and really flying high,” Steele said.

“He is going to be very handy if he can stay healthy and we have got Josh Bruce to come back in, too, so it will be interesting to see how all of that works.

“But even when you just put it (the ball) to a (marking) contest, Paddy is going to take a mark, because he has got such good hands and such good timing.

“So he is going to pretty handy up there.

“I don’t think teams see him as a huge threat just yet, so it will be good to get him going throughout the year.

“He has had a few setbacks over the journey, so hopefully this is the year that he can really get going.”

McCartin reeled in one of the marks of the night taking in a beauty off-balance on the half-back flank at Ikon Park and worried Liam Jones in the second half as the Saints fought back.

He also brushed off a worrying head knock in a marking contest with Jones which startled the Geelong Falcons product.

Clark and Coffield, who were taken with picks No. 7 and No. 8 in last year’s draft, are threatening to break straight into the senior St Kilda side, providing coach Alan Richardson with some early selection headaches.

Paddy McCartin celebrates a goal for the Saints. Picture: AAP Images

Former GWS Giant Steele said he would not be surprised to see both play against the Lions.

“Those two were both pretty impressive and they are making it hard for spots for sure, which is good because you want that competition,” Steele said.

“They will probably start (in the senior team) to be honest, so it was good they both showed really positive signs.

“Everyone at the club always thought it was going to be like that considering what they showed when they first started training with us.

“They both have really good skills and read the ball really well, so they stood out from the get-go.”