ALAN Richardson has forecast more midfield time for Jack Billings and plans to play Eli Templeton on the wing as St Kilda moves to increase the roles of youngsters in 2015.

 

Billings kicked 14 goals in the 16 games in his debut season while Templeton played as a small negating forward before fracturing his arm in round six.

 

Both are slated for bigger roles this season after signing contract extensions late last year.

 

"Jack has worked very hard on his running capacity and has been impressive at this early stage in his midfield training," Richardson said, as part of AFL Media's #AskTheCoach series.

 

"He will still be used, not unlike last year, as a forward.

 

"But, I would hope that he would be able to add about 25 per cent more game time through the midfield."

 

 

Templeton has been promoted to the senior list after his first season as a rookie and is ready to go after missing most of last year with the arm injury.

 

"Our plan is for Eli to play much more on the wing in 2015, [and he's] going really well after what was a very bad broken arm," he said.