AFL round 19: St Kilda defeats West Coast, hands Jarrad Schofield harsh reality check

Taking over from Adam Simpson was never going to be easy — on Saturday, Jarrad Schofield and West Coast powerbrokers were given a worrying wake-up call about the club’s future and life after Elliot Yeo, Jeremy McGovern and Jack Darling.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 20: Tim Membrey of the Saints celebrates a goal during the round 19 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium, on July 20, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

For Jarrad Schofield – the competitiveness of a hard fought loss to Brisbane in his first game must have seemed a long way off as his team folded up and capitulated in his second — going down to St Kilda.

What do you take from a 72-point loss where the inside fifty count was 67-37 against you, the centre clearances were 15-7 and the team was minus 29 in contested possession?

“All the things that we planned for, we didn’t execute and in the end we are disappointed especially with that second half and how we performed,” Schofield said.

“My messaging as the caretaker coach has been pretty simple, it’s that we want to get better each week and what that looks like, and the outcome will take care of itself.

“And today we didn’t execute on the things that we are focusing on around our identity as a football team.”

The answer for Schofield and the Eagles might be that at least this provided more information on what decisions might need to be taken at the end of the season as West Coast look to shift as many as 10 players on their list.

They got a better look at their young players in this game because of the absence of Elliot Yeo (neck), Jeremy McGovern (ribs) and Liam Duggan (concussion).

Tim Membrey kicks a goal for St Kilda. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

And they may also be better placed on what should be done with experienced players like Andrew Gaff, Dom Sheed, Jamie Cripps and Jack Darling.

Cripps played against the Saints but Darling, Gaff and Sheed didn’t.

This was not just information about how the kids coped.

It was also information about how the team might cope without older heads who may or may not be on the list management precipice.

It affects all area of the ground — defence, midfield and attack.

McGovern can be expected to be there next year but the other tall defender who has been a fixture in Eagles teams over the best part of 10 years is Tom Barrass who has been the subject of ongoing trade speculation and is being targeted by the Western Bulldogs.

“Our back six held up considering the ball was coming in at time with a bit of freedom,” Schofield said.

“I think they kicked five goals sort of on return to serve from halfback and off stoppage so that was the disappointing thing, that the ball was coming back in with interest and our backs held in there.

“But across the ground, our defence, mids and forwards wasn’t at the level it should be.

“We had some opportunities when we did go forward with the ball to execute and we didn’t execute.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think we had a tackle in our forward 50 which is not what we are chasing obviously.

“It’s an area that we will review as to why whether it was connection, whether it was the work rate to get there and get it done.

“So we will review that but I think it was 23-0 forward-50 tackles.

“You’re not going to survive in the game with those stats.”

If this last month and half is about list exploration, it doesn’t just mean playing the kids. It also means assessing whether older players are needed or taking up space.

So who are the replacements and how did they go against the Saints?

DEFENCE

Who might play when McGovern is injured or if Barrass goes? How do their mid-sized defenders hold up when Duggan isn’t there?

Membrey goes to work at ground level and snaps a beauty!#AFLSaintsEaglespic.twitter.com/X2yVyj9Zqt

— AFL (@AFL) July 20, 2024

Jack Steele has escaped his form funk in the past two weeks. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

THE REPLACEMENTS

Harry Edwards: He has played in 27 losses in a row now but shouldn’t be judged on that and there are signs that he is developing. Took a couple of nice first quarter contested marks and was strong in support of Barrass in a first quarter when the Saints had 20 inside fifties and the ball lived in West Coast’s defence. The backline was overwhelmed by the third term when the Saints were flowing and the ball was coming in under little pressure which made life tough but Edwards had 18 disposals and was a long way from his team’s worst.

Reuben Ginbey: Has been shifted from the midfield to be a defender over the past two weeks and was Duggan’s replacement in the structure against the Saints. Positionally he looks more comfortable in the role and is finding more of the football (22 disposals against St Kilda) but he dropped a handful of marks he should have held and was part of a defence that was eventually overwhelmed by a 67-37 inside fifty count. Disposal needs work.

I hope Liam Henry is ok… has been good this year so hopefully the injury isn’t something that will impact 2025

— Western Saints Inc. (@westernsaints) July 20, 2024

Liam Henry is helped from the field after being hurt. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

MIDFIELD

Gaff doesn’t have a contract and is expected to be gone at the end of the season. Sheed does have a contract and is still only 29 but he isn’t quick and has been bothered by lower leg injuries in the past three seasons playing just 24 of a possible 61 games. There may be a conversation to be had at the end of the year.

The Eagles were vulnerable in the middle with Yeo also absent in this game – and it showed.

THE REPLACEMENTS

Luke Edwards: He had a shaky moment early when he was mown down by Darcy Wilson in the first term and he was a little unsure with the ball early in the game. Was steadier later and finished with 15 disposals.

Zane Trew: Won a great contested ball in the opening term and fed a handball to Jack Petruccelle but hurt his ribs in the contest. He also won a brave handball-receive running with the flight in the third term but then got ambitious running with the ball and was brought down by Jack Sinclair. He showed glimpses with 17 disposals as he did with 20 against Brisbane last weekend. But he was part of a midfield that was swamped.

Ryan Maric: Spent time on a wing and as the high half forward. He bobbed up early and took a nice mark for a first term goal and was prominent for three quarters before fading a little in the last. He finished with 19 disposals and is worth persevering with.

FORWARD

Jack Darling has been left out in the last two weeks and wasn’t picked when Jake Waterman was unavailable for this game. Jamie Cripps has been solid for much of the year but has battled in the last two matches and fumbled a number of times over the ball against the Saints. Both have contracts but both are 32.

Harley Reid catches Liam Henry, who was injured. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Liam Stocker came from the ground following this incident with Liam Ryan.#AFLSaintsEaglespic.twitter.com/CZFzYcIwCt

— AFL (@AFL) July 20, 2024

THE REPLACEMENTS

Jack Williams: His position will be forward ruck but he does his best work around goal. He took a nice mark and kicked three goals from set shots. Needs to find a bit more of the ball. Committed a last quarter howler which gave Josh Battle a fifty metre penalty and a goal.

Jack Hutchinson: The Eagles liked him enough to play him off just one game in the WAFL but he is clearly still finding his way in the AFL after being picked in the mid-season draft. Had an early shot and missed and then couldn’t find much of the ball.

Jai Culley: The Eagles like his work rate and he does have a four goal game to his name. The question mark will be on speed and his knee injury hasn’t made him any quicker. Struggled for opportunity and impact in this game and finished with seven disposals.

Originally published as AFL round 19: St Kilda defeats West Coast, hands Jarrad Schofield harsh reality check