ST KILDA will make a decision on the careers of veterans Sam Fisher and Adam Schneider at the end of this season, coach Alan Richardson says.
Fisher and Schneider have indicated their desire to play on in 2015, but both have had to deal with injury-interrupted seasons.
Fisher played his first game in round 17 against North Melbourne, after being cut down by foot, toe, hamstring and back injuries over the past year. Schneider has managed 10 games, after being hindered by a foot infection.
Richardson said it would be irresponsible to make a rash decision to re-sign Fisher, 32, and Schneider, 30, given their lack of football this year.
"I've spoken to Fish a couple of times and we just need to see how he's going with his body," Richardson said at Melbourne Airport on Friday morning.
"The reality is that he hasn't played a lot of footy and we just need to see how he goes for the remainder of the year and, if he gets through, we'll sit down and have that conversation.
"We'll sit down with Schneids. There's a few of those guys we'll sit down with at the end of the year and see where they're at."
Richardson said it was integral the Saints discussed those issues when balancing their list.
"History would suggest, irrespective of which club, that if you throw out all your experience then you're potentially curtailing the development of the younger guys," Richardson said.
"There needs to be a blend in the team. The team needs to be as competitive as it can be as often as it can, whilst introducing young players.
"We take all that into account when we manage the list."
Richardson also confirmed young ruckman Tom Hickey will undergo knee surgery in London.
The Saints flew the 23-year-old over to the UK to visit world-renowned Swedish surgeon Hakan Alfredson, who has decided surgery is the best course of action in treating Hickey's knee tendinitis.
Prof. Alfredson performed a similar operation on Geelong's Steven Motlop earlier this year, while he has also treated Greater Western Sydney forward Jonathon Patton and soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovi?.
"I don't totally understand the nature of the surgery, but he's (Alfredson) the man given the injury that Tom has and we're really confident that we'll get the best result by sending Tom there."
The Saints will face off against a powerful Sydney Swans side at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.
