Draw assessment
It should be a relatively smooth start for the Saints, who do not play a 2011 finalist until round six. They have two trips to Adelaide, one to Perth, one to Sydney and two to Queensland. The run home looks to be a roller-coaster with games against Collingwood, Geelong and Carlton interspersed with matches against Melbourne and GWS.
Pivotal match
More than a few would have looked to see when the Saints took on Fremantle when the 2012 fixture was released. As it happens, Ross Lyon comes up against his old team in round four under the Friday night lights at Etihad Stadium. The Saints have never publically spoken of any animosity towards Lyon but there will be plenty of people with a point to prove on April 20.
Injury list
The Saints are one of the healthiest clubs in the lead-up to round one. Only James Gwilt is a certainty to miss as he recovers from a knee reconstruction. Lenny Hayes will return from the same injury despite also receiving a heavy knock in the practice match against Collingwood.
Track specialist
Forward Arryn Siposs looks to have added some bulk to his frame and is likely to add to his games tally. A strong mid-sized forward with a long penetrating kick, Siposs looks to be over the shin splints that interrupted the second half of his debut season and could become a regular senior player.
Dream Team special
Tom Ledger has been one of the stars of St Kilda's indifferent NAB Cup campaign and looks set for a big season. With the Saints eager to pump experience into their younger players, Ledger could be set for plenty of game time in the midfield and at $163,200 he is a bargain buy.
Draftee watch
Beau Wilkes is older than most draftees at 26 but he looks set to fill a hole immediately. The Saints picked him with a fourth round draft choice last year mainly with the view to replacing defender Zac Dawson. Wilkes is also capable of playing forward and could add some much-needed assistance to Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke.
Needs a big year
Rhys Stanley has shown promise in his three years at the Saints but is yet to consolidate himself in the team. He played a couple of handy NAB Cup games and if he reaches his potential he could be a vital asset as a tall forward/backup ruckman. Stanley arrived at the Saints in the same draft that brought Tom Lynch, Nick Heyne, Paul Cahill and Alistair Smith to the club. They have all moved on and Stanley needs to prove why he is worth persevering with.
Best and fairest tip
It is staggering that a player who has earned three All Australian selections and almost won two Brownlow medals is yet to win a club best and fairest. Nick Dal Santo came close last year but ran second to Sam Fisher. If he can continue his stellar form from 2011, he would be a deserving winner of the Trevor Barker Medal. Leigh Montagna and Brendon Goddard are others who are deserving of their first club best and fairest, but don't rule out multiple winners Nick Riewoldt and Fisher.
The Saints will have a good year if...
... their back six works well together and their next crop of youngsters increase their contribution. Losing Dawson was a big blow to the back line and James Gwilt is out for a while as well. Much rests on Fisher and Sean Dempster to hold down the fort. Too many draftees have come and gone in the past few years with a minimal contribution. If Ledger, Stanley, Siposs, Jamie Cripps and Sebastian Ross can all have an impact then maybe the Saints won't slide as so many are predicting.
The big issues
- Does the core group of players in their late 20s have one more premiership tilt left in them?
- Can Ben McEvoy and Rhys Stanley form a competitive ruck duo?
- Do the Saints have enough tall defensive options?
Best 22
B: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Sam Gilbert
HB: Brett Peake, Sam Fisher, Jason Gram
C: Jack Steven, Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna
HF: David Armitage, Nick Riewoldt, Arryn Siposs
F: Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Adam Schneider
FOLL: Ben McEvoy, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Clinton Jones, Farren Ray, Beau Wilkes
Sub: Tom Ledger
AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 12th
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
