HS article v Ess match report 4/3

[theoracle]

From today’s Herald Sun for those that can’t access it:

AFL 2023 practice matches: Every player rated from St Kilda v Essendon
One star Bomber was quiet, while a number of players put their hand up for round 1. See our ratings for every Don and Saint.
Chris Cavanagh

Essendon has been brought back to earth by a St Kilda side missing a host of its stars in a scrappy pre-season match at Moorabbin.
The Bombers managed just three goals despite missing only Jake Stringer from their first-choice forward line, with new coach Brad Scott seemingly having much work still to do.
The Bombers kicked themselves out of the contest as they booted 3.14 (32) to 10.7 (67), with the Saints proving more hungry in the contest and more accurate in front of the big sticks on a blustery afternoon.

ST KILDA PLAYER NOTES
4 Jade Gresham – Spent most of his day forward, not attending any centre bounces. Had 18 touches but was not particularly damaging and didn’t hit the scoreboard
5 Brad Crouch – Started at the first centre bounce and was a prolific ball-winner through the day in the midfield, gathering a game-high 34 disposals.
7 Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – Very good in defence across the afternoon. Used the ball well by foot and made a few intercepts on his way to 23 disposals.
8 Brad Hill – Was picked but pulled out on the day due to personal reasons.
9 Jack Steele – The captain was hard at it in the midfield as he always is.
10 Mitch Owens – The mid-sized forward was the equal-leading goalkicker on the ground with three majors for the day, all of which came in the second half.
11 Hunter Clark – Looking good after being restricted to just eight games last year due to injury. Got some midfield opportunities as well as spending some time across halfback and racked up 24 touches.
13 Ryan Byrnes – Solid enough afternoon on a wing, collecting 17 disposals.
14 Liam Stocker – The former Blue and SSP signing played his role across half-back. Wouldn’t have done his chances of a Round 1 debut in his new colours any harm as he had 19 disposals and took six marks.
16 Dan Butler – Lively as a small forward in the first half and snapped a goal in the second quarter but didn’t see a lot of the footy after the main break. Looked hungry with his pressure and tackling, though.
17 Marcus Windhager – The midfielder made it through only minutes before breaking a bone in his right hand and sitting out the rest of the match. Still expected to be available for round 1.
19 Rowan Marshall – Looks to be loving life back as the No.1 ruckman following Paddy Ryder’s retirement. Was the dominant big man on the ground and bombed a long goal in the second quarter to go with 24 disposals, seven marks and 18 hitouts. Spent most of the day head-to-head with Sam Draper.
20 Dylan Howard – Played his usual role as a key post in defence.
21 Zaine Cordy – The former Bulldogs backman was used as a key forward throughout the day. He only won six disposals, but competed well at times and brought the ball to ground.
22 Jack Higgins – Hungry for sausages in the forward line as he always is. Booted three goals from 14 disposals in a strong day out.
23 Jack Bytel – Was slated to be a reserve player but came on midway through the first quarter for Windhager after his injury and had a good game through the midfield.
25 Mattaes Phillipou – The No.10 pick in last year’s draft kicked his side’s first goal in the second quarter with a clever snap. Playing forward throughout the day, it was his only goal but he finished with 15 disposals to throw his hat in the ring for Round 1.
26 Josh Battle – Is settled back in defence and put in a good performance with 17 disposals and seven marks.
29 Jimmy Webster – Played down back and defended reasonably well, while also finding a bit of the footy himself.
32 Mason Wood – Arguably the best player on the ground playing on a wing after a big summer building his tank. Was strong with his marking in the air and gathered 28 disposals, A second-quarter goal was icing on the cake.
33 Ben Paton – Has got an opportunity on a wing, having previously been a defender primarily. Gathered 13 touches for the day.
34 Tom Highmore – Was picked in the side but didn’t receive any game time for the match.
35 Jack Sinclair – Mixed his time between half-back and through the midfield and had 21 disposals.
43 Cooper Sharman - Was picked in the side but didn’t receive any game time for the match.
44 Callum Wilkie –A staple down back who took some good marks and provided some drive off half-back with his kicking.
47 Anthony Caminiti –The late SSP signing surprise put in an eye-catching performance as a key forward. Only had 11 disposals and didn’t hit the scoreboard, but presented well at the ball and took some strong marks. Right in the frame for a Round 1 debut.

ROUND 1 BOLTERS
St Kilda appears to have uncovered a key forward to fill the void left by Max King’s absence in the early part of the season.
A pre-season supplemental selection period signing, Anthony Caminiti caught the eye against Essendon to further push his case for round 1 selection.

The 19-year-old, who measures 196cm tall, presented well and provided a contest in attack, in a forward line that was missing not only King (shoulder) but also Tim Membrey (knee), Matthew Allison (foot) and Jack Hayes (foot).
He finished with 11 disposals and four marks for the day.
St Kilda’s top draft pick from last year – Mattaes Phillipou – was also solid playing mostly in the forward line, racking up 15 disposals and a goal

FRESH INJURY BLOWS
Another injury was the last thing that St Kilda needed, but Marcus Winghager’s name has been added to what is an already sizeable injury list.
The second-year midfielder – who had been a standout on the track over summer – lasted just minutes before breaking his left hand in the first quarter of the clash.
Windhager iced his hand on the bench after coming off before finishing the day in a sling.
He will have surgery on Saturday, but is still expected to be available for the Saints’ round 1 clash against Fremantle.

MAGIC MARSHALL
Rowan Marshall finished second in St Kilda’s best and fairest in 2019 when he was the No.1 ruckman.
Then Paddy Ryder arrived at the club and Marshall was forced to spend significant time forward the past three seasons.
But on the back of Ryder’s retirement at the end of last year, Marshall has returned as the main man in the ruck and looks to be relishing the role.
Marshall went head to head with Sam Draper for most of the game and while he didn’t take the honours in the hitout count, he did provide more around the ground.
The 27-year-old finished with 24 disposals and a lovely long range goal in the second quarter.
He looks set for a bumper year.

MASON FIRING
A big summer of running has set the scene for Mason Wood as he looks to lock down his new role on a wing.
Wood was one of the best on ground at RSEA Park with 28 disposals, 15 marks and a goal as he worked hard up and down one wing and continuously won plenty of the footy.
A one-time forward, Wood moved to the wing last year and looks to be only getting better in the new role.

NOTABLE ABSENTEES
St Kilda – Max King (shoulder), Nick Coffield, Zak Jones (Achilles), Seb Ross, Brad Hill (personal), Jack Hayes (foot), Jack Billings (leg), Tim Membrey (knee), Matthew Allison (foot)
Essendon – Kyle Langford, Elijahg Tsatas (knee), Ben Hobbs, Nik Cox, James Stewart, Dyson Heppell (foot), Jake Stringer (hamstring).

[meher baba]

Why was Seb Ross missing? The H-S clearly doesn’t know.

Does anyone on here?

[Sainter_Dad]

Why was Seb Ross missing? The H-S clearly doesn’t know.

Does anyone on here?

Some people on here were not missing Seb.

[SaintWiki]

Not sure whether this is allowed or appropriate. mods can delete or let me know and I will

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There are more here: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-pr ... 0fbad0f2e7

[saynta]

Why was Seb Ross missing? The H-S clearly doesn’t know.

Does anyone on here?

Yep, strained calf muscle.

Hun can't make up its mind if windy broke a bone in his left or right hand.

[saynta]

Why was Seb Ross missing? The H-S clearly doesn’t know.

Does anyone on here?

Some people on here were not missing Seb.

Only the footy ignorant.

[Saintmike65]

Why was Seb Ross missing? The H-S clearly doesn’t know.

Does anyone on here?

Seb Ross is rehabbing following a calf injury

[King Max]

20 Dylan Howard – Played his usual role as a key post in defence.

Quality analysis from the Hun.