Jack Steele says the Saints’ younger forwards will take important confidence from their 15-point win over Fremantle into spherical 2 in opposition to the Western Bulldogs.
The Saints shall be pressured to play the identical undermanned assault on Saturday night time that they carried into the Fremantle sport, however their captain mentioned all they would want to do is replicate the hassle proven in opposition to the Dockers.
Tim Membrey’s return has been delayed additional, with the three-time Saints main goalkicker now listed as unavailable for four-to-six weeks as he’s “reloaded” by the membership’s health workers.
Neither debutant Anthony Caminiti nor Zaine Cordy had been capable of take a mark inside 50 because the skies had been dominated by Fremantle trio Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan and Hayden Younger, however Steele mentioned he had been impressed by their effort to carry the ball to floor.
“It was nice to see them go down there and actually play their position,” Steele mentioned.
“It was a special position for Cords in recent times, so to see him go down there and produce the ball as he did, and identical as Anthony Caminiti, it was nice to see.
“Mitch Owens was superior, flying for marks and bringing the ball to floor as nicely.”
Steele mentioned coach Ross Lyon had been “a little bit bit extra relaxed than I assumed” within the official restart to his St Kilda teaching profession and credited his easy messaging with inspiring the dogged spherical 1 victory.
“It goes to indicate that for those who simply carry that effort and drive it’s potential. For these gamers, they will take plenty of confidence out of what they completed, however they’re going to have to have the ability to carry it subsequent week and again it up,” he mentioned.
Steele mentioned a budget 50m penalties given away by vice-captain Callum Wilkie and himself in fast succession, gifting Fremantle two targets, had been mentioned with teammates after the sport.
“It clearly wasn’t ok, it was a horrible time within the sport and it actually began to swing the momentum within the sport,” he mentioned.
“What me and Wilks did was most likely not ok, we’ve obtained to be higher.”
Marcus Windhager (damaged hand) and Seb Ross (calf) are anticipated to be accessible to tackle the Bulldogs on Saturday night time, however the Saints will lose Jimmy Webster (damaged hand) and Jack Bytel (minimize knee) for not less than every week.
The leg wound is an unfortunate setback for Bytel, who impressed with 16 disposals, seven tackles and a purpose in opposition to the Dockers.
Appearing soccer boss David Misson mentioned the Saints had been hopeful Webster might return for spherical 3, whereas he defined why Bytel would miss.
“Jack suffered a minimize to his knee early within the sport which was attended to and he returned to the sector,” he mentioned.
“Nonetheless, his discomfort continued post-match and Jack was admitted to hospital later that night.
“Jack then underwent a clean-out of the wound, leading to disruption to his preparation this week.”
Not less than one of many former midfield pair will return in Bytel’s place, whereas substitute Ben Paton is prone to change Webster within the beginning 22.
