AFL 2021: St Kilda news ahead of Round 4; Paddy Ryder return looms after long club absence

Missing for 26 days, Saints ruckman Paddy Ryder has returned to the fold at Moorabbin following time off to spend time with family, but whether he plays remains uncertain.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: Saints coach Brett Ratten and Paddy Ryder of the Saints celebrate after the Saints defeated the Bulldogs during the AFL Second Elimination Final match between the St Kilda Saints and the Western Bulldogs at The Gabba on October 03, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

St Kilda big man Paddy Ryder has returned to Moorabbin in a week that the struggling club’s ruck stocks will be severely tested.

St Kilda would love to play both Rowan Marshall (foot) and Ryder in a trio of contests against West Coast, Richmond and Port Adelaide in the next three rounds.

But Ryder will need as many as two weeks of training to reach match fitness and star ruckman Marshall is no certainty to take on West Coast’s Nic Naitanui on Saturday at Marvel Stadium.

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The Saints didn’t stand in Paddy Ryder’s way when he needed to reconnect with family.

The Herald Sun understands Ryder finally felt ready to return to the club after a 26-day absence spending time with family and friends interstate.

He was spotted at Adelaide airport on Monday with his St Kilda bag.

The Saints were fully supportive of Ryder’s desire to leave the club on the eve of the regular season to connect with some family and friends from his community in South Australia.

Coach Brett Ratten had said there was something “missing’’ in Ryder’s life after going over a year without seeing family.

But his return to the club this week could pave way for him to return to the VFL and then the senior side in coming weeks depending on his fitness.

It is understood Ryder will need as many as two weeks of training to reach AFL level.

Ryder has been spotted at the Adelaide airport. Picture: Getty Images

The Saints dropped SANFL recruit Paul Hunter from the senior side at the weekend, leaving Shaun McKernan to lead the ruck division in the heavy 75-point loss to Essendon on Saturday night.

Marshall will come under consideration to face Naitanui on Saturday after getting through his return clash in the VFL at the weekend.

Marshall has overcome a foot problem and could play large stints forward when he returns to the senior side.

Ratten said the Saints would make a decision during the week on whether he was ready or if overloading him could set back his recovery.

The return of Marshall and Ryder would provide a huge boost for the Saints as they look to get back on track after a slow start to the season.

The Saints are 1-2 after three rounds and are under pressure to deliver a big improvement in the tackle stakes after racking up only 32 tackles in the loss to the Bombers.

St Kilda won the elimination final over Western Bulldogs last year but their finals hopes are on the line over the next three weeks against West Coast, Richmond and Port Adelaide.

There have been calls for Brad Hill to be dropped after two poor games in a row.

But former Saints star Leigh Montagna told the Herald Sun on Monday instead Ratten had to find the secret to unlocking his best football.

Ryder would be a welcome inclusion after the Saints’ absymal start to the season.

He says just as Essendon hands the ball to Zach Merrett at every opportunity given his foot skills, so must the Saints use Hill.

“They can’t drop him. They need to tap into their coaching. That’s the art of coaching,” he said.

“You need to put the onus on him to roll up his sleeves and get to work but he’s a player out of confidence and out of form. It’s a big challenge for Brett Ratten.

“So I am not buying into the over-reaction of dropping him. Others deserve to be dropped before him. Brett Ratten and his coaching staff need to find a way to get his confidence back and maximise his strengths. At Essendon with Zach Merrett he runs past and they give him the ball every time. With less congestion and a more open game, kicking is more valuable and you want your best kicks with ball in hand.”

Originally published as AFL 2021: St Kilda news ahead of Round 4; Paddy Ryder return looms after long club absence