THERE have been no limits set for St Kilda's crop of draftees, including top selection Paddy McCartin, when it comes to their availability for senior football in 2015.
Saints coach Alan Richardson is used to fielding questions about when promising draftees are going to play senior football, having had to hose down pre-season expectations placed on Jack Billings, Luke Dunstan and Blake Acres 12 months ago.
This year, his crop of kids is bigger – and more high-profile, given the acquisition of No.1 NAB AFL Draft selection McCartin and versatile tall Hugh Goddard.
Fans will want to see them, and Daniel McKenzie and Jack Lonie, early on, given the Saints' rebuilding position.
As he did with last year's trio, Richardson won't promise them senior football when the season starts in April.
But, he won't rule it out either.
"It's very similar to last year. It doesn't change," Richardson told AFL.com.au.
"It's about picking them and selecting them when they're ready to play.
"Do they understand whatever role we give them, what's required, have they been able to display that level of understanding in their training and their trial game form leading up to it?
"Do we physically think they're ready to go, because we're not going to compromise what they're here for, and that's to be long-term strong players for us.
"They're not here for a game, they're here for a career and if they're ready to go, they'll play.
"If they're not, that's OK – they'll continue to develop and work on their game at VFL level or on the training track."
Saint's big response to coach's challenge
Last year, Billings overcame a pre-season quad injury to join Dunstan as a round-one debutant. Acres didn't play because of a foot injury, and other niggling complaints restricted him to three senior games for the season.
But Billings and Dunstan played 16 each, with the latter showing signs he could become Lenny Hayes' replacement.
When it came to McCartin in particular, Richardson said it would be a hot contest for spots in a forward line that has been largely single-focused in recent years.
"There's no guarantees on anyone," he said.
"Rooey (Nick Riewoldt) and some of our more experienced players would have to be in terrible form not to play given we're going to be fairly young.
"(But) there's going to be some really healthy competition for spots.
"Tommy Lee is training really well, Spencer White has been able to do a full pre-season.
"Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey as well, there's some big guys there that can also potentially give us some options forward of the ball."
Tim Membrey recovers from the Saints' 2km time trial earlier this week. Picture: AFL Media
Goddard will be trained as a defender at the Saints, while Bruce is set to continue to develop as a forward after showing positive signs in attack late last season.
"We think it's a real bonus to have someone of that size that can be versatile and flexible," Richardson said.
"But we like what [Bruce] did for us late in the year when he went forward, he's got a lot of energy, a lot of speed, he likes to tackle, his pressure is good.
"He's able to take a good mark so he's got some attributes to suggest he could be good for us there."
