EXCITING St Kilda mature-age draftee Matthew Parker is looming as a round-one bolter.
The 187cm forward booted two goals in last Saturday's intraclub at RSEA Park, when he lined up in the team that was close to the Saints' best available side.
Drafted with pick No.47 last year, Parker has serious speed, impressive endurance and can impact in the air or on the ground.
JLT Community Series matches against North Melbourne on Saturday and the Western Bulldogs eight days later will be crucial but the 23-year-old doesn't need to change much to secure a berth for the season opener against Gold Coast.
"There's still a fair bit of water to go under the bridge, but he's doing everything right," Saints coach Alan Richardson told AFL.com.au.
"I would say that if he were to continue that sort of form and be able to execute his role the way he did at the weekend, he's going to give himself every chance."
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Parker is a different type of player to Ben Long (182cm), Jack Lonie (174cm) and fellow draftee Robbie Young (179cm).
He's not quite a tall option but how he would fit in alongside Josh Bruce (197cm), Paddy McCartin (194cm) and Tim Membrey (188cm) will be determined in the two upcoming pre-season games.
"We'll have a look at all sorts of structures," Richardson said.
That goes for the ruckmen as well. Billy Longer is set to miss the Saints' clash against the Suns with a hamstring injury, leaving Lewis Pierce and Rowan Marshall to vie for the position.
Pierce offers more aggression, which he displayed while on top in the first half of the intraclub, while Marshall's better fitness was obvious in the second half.
Both are likely to face the Roos.
"They're different players. That will be a real horses for courses decision, that one, depending on what we consider to be opportunity for us to either control something of the opposition's or try and get an advantage," Richardson said.
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Regardless of who takes the mantle, tough onballer Jack Steele is likely to spend plenty of time at their feet.
He finished third in last year's best and fairest after taking on a shutdown role late last season while winning plenty of the football, averaging 28 disposals in the last eight games and keeping opposition stars quiet.
The 23-year-old will again resume that responsibility.
"He's got a really good balance to his game, so I think his role will be pretty similar," Richardson said.
The Saints want to see Jack Billings spend more time on a wing, compared to half-forward, while the club's reigning goalkicking champion Jade Gresham is also slated for more midfield minutes.
"His endurance has really improved. He's done a good job. Like all young players, he'll need to work on facets of his physical make-up and certainly his game, but he's heading the right way pretty quickly," Richardson said.
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"We think he can really add something to us in and around stoppage. We like him in the midfield because of the way he uses the ball and changes angles.
"He's as good a lateral stepper as I've seen. Not unlike 'JB' (Billings), he's such a dangerous forward … we'll use him in both spots."
