6 outs for 4 ins.

[saynta]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... d90797b7a1


"A facial fracture won’t stop inspirational St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary from taking on North Melbourne in Round 1.

The Saints defender had surgery on Monday morning to have a small break near his temple popped out after a collision late in the win over Collingwood.

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He continued to play for several minutes but eventually finished the game on the bench, with Saints doctors in no doubt he will be fit to play 13 days after the procedure.

It continues a horror run that saw Geary overcome compartment syndrome that required dramatic surgical intervention last year before breaking his leg in China in his return game.

Some facial fractures require plates to be inserted but St Kilda is confident he will be ready to take on the Roos without great risk.

St Kilda has considerable pressure for spots under Brett Ratten with Jimmy Webster and Jake Carlisle both expected to push strongly to come into the team against North Melbourne.

Carlisle missed several sessions early last week with a family issue and so did not play against Collingwood but is clearly in the best back six.

Jimmy Webster skipped the clash given a sore shoulder and despite only eight games due to injury last year is in the Saints best team when up and running.

Star midfielders Seb Ross and Jade Gresham are automatic inclusions who were rested due to loads from the Saints’ win over the Pies.

St Kilda had 24 players in its Marsh Series side against the Pies in Morwell so would have to make six changes to bring in all four of those returning Saints.

Ratten was thrilled with the hitout against Collingwood despite some scrappy early footy as 2018’s No.4 draft pick Max King franked his Round 1 debut with some strong early marking.

“Max is developing well as a young man. He could have kicked three early. He’s done enough to put his name up there for selection,” Ratten said.

“We want 30 blokes to select from. Our list is fairly healthy, but he’s done a fair bit (to put his hand up for a Round 1 debut).”


And King firms for Saints;

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/ano ... 54807.html


"King impressed with his smooth moving and high marking in the first half in Morwell on Sunday, and did so against one of 2019's most miserly defensive units in Collingwood and their high-fliers in Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe and Jordan Roughead.

The 2018 draft No. 4 pick will look to improve his set shot accuracy - he could have had three firs- half goals if not for missing two set shots and ending up with only one - but his presence in the marking contest and his speed and agility at ground level given his size is exciting. He took two contested marks for the half.

“Max is developing well as a young man,” St Kilda coach Brett Ratten said after the game.

“He has done enough to put his name up there in the selection [for round one] and as I said we want 30 blokes ready to select from if we can or even more.

“He has done a fair bit.”

It will be interesting to see how King fits in with the Saints forward line as the season progresses, which includes the tall Tim Membrey and Paddy Ryder or Rowan Marshall when either ruck is rotating into attack.

King's speed and ability to cover ground works in his and St Kilda's favour in this respect.

“I know Max King has drifted out of the game [in the second half], he just competed one against two and then when the ball hit the deck he was there to put pressure on the Collingwood player … he is doing all the things you could possibly ask him to do,” Jason Dunstall said on the Fox Footy coverage.

In good midfield news for the Pies Jordan De Goey spent a lot of time in the engine room, much more than usual, and equipped himself well while Josh Daicos and Jamie Elliott had an impact around the footy too.

For the Saints Bradley Hill looked sharp and clean in the midfield and Dan Butler was lively crumbing in the forward 50, while Jack Steele was strong as ever inside and Marshall's aggression against Brodie Grundy was effective. Ben Long again looked superb in his new position on the half-back flank and Jack Lonie popped up with four goals.

Jaidyn Stephenson was very quiet in his first senior Marsh match for the Pies, kicking one goal in the final term thanks to a down-field free kick.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was positive after the match despite the result: “A little bit more than we wanted [in the midfield] at times. Jordy’s impact when he comes in is excellent.

“He’s a point of difference for us.

“Jamie Elliott in the same manner was effective … so those two boys we’ll definitely be seeing through the midfield when we need the fresh legs.”

St Kilda's new man at the helm Brett Ratten “was pleased the players adapted and we got things back on track.

“For us it’s about getting as many men ready for round one.

“That’s the first time [Zak] Jones has played with [Dougal] Howard, [Paddy] Ryder and [Josh] Hill and Dan [Butler] … if we keep putting these men together they’ll keep getting a greater understanding of each other which is good.''

[Linton Lodger]

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