Showing off a couple of battle scars after a physical few rounds of footy, St Kilda Vice Captain Lenny Hayes is preparing for another tough clash against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium this Saturday night.
“Port Adelaide is a very proud Club and we’ve always had really good battles against them. They’ve previously had a really good record against us and we always know we’re in for a great contest.
“I wouldn’t take too much out of their performance (against Geelong) last week - Geelong are obviously a super star team - so we expect them to bounce back and that it will be a really hard game on Saturday night.”
Tall forward, Justin Koschitze, will return for the Saints on Saturday night, who will be a welcome addition to the slightly depleted forward set-up.
“We’re obviously crying out for a tall target in the goal square. We tried a few different things there last week, a few things worked. Kosi’s a great player for us and I think he’s pretty excited to get out there this weekend.” Hayes said.
Although Hayes was quick not to take anything away from a great performance up forward from Brendon Goddard against Fremantle last weekend and said;
“It’s a great strength of (Goddard’s) that he can play down back, in the midfield or up forward. I think with Kosi coming back in Brendon might be freed up a little bit more to play in the midfield or even across half back.
“We’ll have to wait until the team meeting to find out where he is going to line up but he’s proved he is a valuable player, and as long as he is out on the park we are a much better team.”
With a great start to the season campaign, Hayes admitted that the performance delivered from the team so far was proof of the preparation and training that they have been working on over the past year.
“Everyone’s just been playing their role and I think it has been a real strength of the team over the last year. We haven’t expected anyone to do anything spectacular - everyone’s just played their part.”
“There are a couple of guys who have had really good form in the reserves (Sandringham) but it will be pretty hard to knock someone out of their place at the moment because the team is going pretty well.”
Round 5 this weekend can expect to see some great Anzac Spirit demonstrated at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night from both teams.
Speaking of the Anzac Day weekend Hayes said; “This weekend is a great round of footy, and I know that every team places a big importance on the Anzac Day spirit and playing the game in a spirit that they would want the game to be played. I know that as a Club we make a big focus about it.”
We look forward to seeing all South Australian members at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night. If you can’t get to the game, click here to find out where the match will be broadcast around Australia.
