Squad Breakdown: St Kilda Saints 2023 SC analysis

With Ross the Boss back at the helm, can the Saints finally return to September action?

They’ll find it tough in the early stages of the season without a key forward, with Max King, Jack Hayes, and Matt Allison all on the sidelines.

Lead by Jack Steele, the engine room will most likely be their strongest area on the ground; but Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s move to half-back is the thing that will have Saint’s fans drooling the most.

With no supporting ruckmen in sight, Rowan Marshall looks set to take his game to another level, so keep your eyes on him for some smoky Brownlow votes.

Sign up to SC Playbook in 2023! Gain access to stacks of additional premium articles every week during the pre-season and regular season, our major subscriber prize, our Whatsapp community featuring Q&A’s with our team of contributors, and plenty of other bonus features. SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Embed from Getty Images

Team

FB: Ben Paton, Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie

HB: Jack Sinclair, Zaine Cordy, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

C: Bradley Hill, Brad Crouch, Daniel Mackenzie

HF: Jade Gresham, Mitch Owens, Mason Wood

FF: Dan Butler, Josh Battle, Jack Higgins

FOLL: Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele, Hunter Clarke

INT: Seb Ross, Liam Stocker, Mattaes Phillipou, Jack Bytel

SUB: Zac Jones

INJ: Nick Coffield, Tim Membrey, Marcus Windhager, Max King, Jack Hayes

Embed from Getty Images

List Changes

Ins: Zaine Cordy (free agent, Western Bulldogs), Mattaes Phillipou (draft), James Van Es (draft), Ollie Hotton (draft), Isaac Keeler (draft), Angus McLennan (category B rookie), Liam Stocker (pre-season supplemental selection period)

Outs: Jarryn Geary (retired), Dan Hannebery (retired), Darragh Joyce (delisted), Dean Kent (retired), Jarrod Lienert (delisted), Ben Long (trade, Gold Coast), Paddy Ryder (retired)

We’ve linked up with Betr for the 2023 footy season! Each week of the AFL season we’ll be delivering our SC Playbook unique market. To kick Round 1 off, we’re backing in the brand new Melbourne ruck duo to dominate all over the ground against the Bulldogs on Saturday night at $5.70! FOLLOW HERE

Lock & Load

Rowan Marshall (RUC, $506,500)

Coming into Round 1 without “missing a beat” according to Robert Harvey, RowMar looks like one of the easiest picks we’ll get all year.

In the 11 games Marshall played alongside Paddy Ryder last season, he averaged just 76 SuperCoach points.

However, in the 10 games Marshall played without Ryder, he averaged 110.

That’s an increase of 34 points…

And, as I’m sure you know, Paddy Ryder has retired, and Rowan Marshall is the clear and obvious #1 Ruckman for the Saints this year.

He scored 155 points against the Bombers from 24 touches, 7 marks, 4 tackles, 18 hit outs, and a goal.

Lock. And. Load.

Embed from Getty Images

Mid-Pricer

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (MID, $303,200)

This will be totally more relevant when he inevitably gets defensive DPP, but for now NWM is more of a watch (unless you’re really brave!).

After playing most of last year on the wing, the talented ball-user is now making the transition to half-back which has typically been one the more favourable positions for SuperCoach scoring.

He collected 23 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, and 91 SC points against the Bombers two weeks ago.

For now, you can afford to avoid him, but he’s going to be very hard to ignore by the time Round 6 comes around.

Struggling to pay off your credit card, loans all over the place? Stress less, we mean it, Pat and George from Mortgage Choice SCW can ease the pressure by getting you a single loan to help you pay off debts, at a lower rate. Mention SC Playbook for a FREE CONSULT!

Cheapie

Nick Coffield (DEF, $208,800)

Again, similar to NWM, this is just a “wait until the time is right” kind of option.

I was very hot on Coffield earlier in the year, but after not playing in either of the trial games and recently succumbing to a six-week calf injury, he’s definitely fallen off the radar.

He has shown in previous years that he can vastly out-perform what he’s currently priced at, so when he does inevitably come back into the side at some point this season, Coffield will be a great downgrade option.

Embed from Getty Images

Avoid

Jack Sinclair (DEF, $626,600)

I know he had a career best season last year, but I don’t understand why 7% of the comp have picked him in their sides.

In fact, in his eight-year career, 2022 was the ONLY year he has ever averaged 100+.

It’s also 28 points more than his next highest SuperCoach average.

With NWM moving to half-back, Hunter Clark returning from injury, and Nick Coffield right around the corner, I’m confident Sinclair won’t see as much of the footy as he did last year.

Look for him as a potential post-bye upgrade.