Fit Paddy shapes as key to Saints’ breakthrough season

ST KILDA spearhead Paddy McCartin is ready to have a breakout year after three seasons of nightmare concussion and injury problems, according to teammate Jack Steele.

McCartin, 21, bagged two goals and could have jagged four if not for a skewed set shot and a grassed uncontested mark in the Saints’ 22- point loss to Carlton on Wednesday night.

The 2014 No. 1 draft pick and budding full-forward is a key plank in the Saints’ plans to make their first finals appearance in six years and has hit career-best fitness levels.

Steele also lauded the preseason performances of firstyear gems Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield, backing them to contend strongly for a Round 1 guernsey.

But Steele said the 194cm former Geelong Falcon was ready to mature into a legitimate AFL goalkicker after 22 goals in his first 22 games.

“It was great to see him back and you saw that he can really take a mark, so it was great to see that his confidence was back and really flying high,” Steele said.

“He is going to be very handy if he can stay healthy. We have got Josh Bruce to come back in, too.

“But even when you just put it (the ball) to a (marking) contest, Paddy is going to take a mark, because he has got such good hands and such good timing.

“I don’t think teams see him as a huge threat just yet, so it will be good to get him going.

“He has had a few setbacks over the journey, so hopefully this is the year that he can really get going.”