ST KILDA defender Zac Dawson will miss Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide after breaking his hand in last week’s loss to Essendon.
However, Saints coach Ross Lyon said he hoped the full-back’s absence would be short term.
“He broke it really early in the first minute. He got it caught up in a jumper. He’s had a plate, we’re hopeful it will be a week, possibly two,” Lyon said.
Lyon said there was no obvious replacement for Dawson but said he would look at bringing a shorter player in.
“I think we can be a little bit tall at times anyway," he said.
"Sometimes we have to shuffle because I’m so loyal to the team selection and we tend to occasionally be too tall so maybe we might balance up nicely as it is.
“[VFL team Sandringham] had a strong performance yesterday so there are a few names up and about so we’ll look at that in due course.”
One player who won’t be up for selection is Raphael Clarke whose season has come to an end after he failed to recover from a hamstring injury.
“He was rehabbing quite strongly but he got to a certain point in the rehab and he hit a snag. They re-scanned and went to the surgeon and they went in for exploratory and it turns out he’s had a significant tendon tear not dissimilar to Nick Riewoldt’s,” Lyon said.
“He had that operated on last week so that will be the year for Raphael. He will be rehabbing over summer.”
Dawson and Clarke might be out of the mix but Lyon said there are a few players who could be putting their hand up for selection.
"We’re really hopeful Clint Jones comes back; Andrew McQualter played quite well and Stanley was quite good," he said.
"Do we go another tall and try and stretch the opposition? Port Power went with three talls and maybe at Etihad you can do that. So that’s something we’ll consider.
"I’m not sure yet.”
Lyon said no player would be spared a searching examination after last Friday night's thumping at the hands of Essendon - St Kilda's second heavy defeat in three weeks.
“Everyone’s always under pressure and no one is guaranteed. I’ve got responsibility to 40,000 members to try and make right decisions." he said
"We’ve certainly got to get on track and play some good football. We’ll have a good look at it and try to pick our best team for Port Power who are up and about.”
