Frawley back in fray as Saints’ casualty room clears

ST KILDA’S injury list has shrunk to just three players as Brett Ratten considers a Saints debut for James Frawley against Geelong’s twin towers on Friday.

St Kilda jumped to a 4-4 win loss record with a gritty win over Gold Coast, where the Saints kicked the only four goals of the final term.

Former Melbourne and

Hawthorn defender Frawley (pictured) played VFL for Sandringham the week before last after hamstring tendon surgery but the VFL affiliate had a bye this weekend. Ratten indicated Frawley was a big chance to return given the Saints will have to deal with Jeremy Cameron,

Tom Hawkins and Gary Rohan.

Seb Ross missed the St Kilda game after his wife Marnie welcomed twins on his 28th birthday.

Saints co-captain Jarryn Geary will make his return from a pre-season broken leg and ankle bone spur in the VFL this weekend.

Ratten said after the gutsy victory even Dan Hannebery was making strong progress, with just Ben Patton (leg, season) and Jade Gresham (achilles, season) on the injury list with the ex-Sydney midfielder.

“I wouldn’t say we are there,” he said.

“We need to fine-tune some things in our game but we are starting to get some personnel back. (Paddy) Ryder and (Rowan) Marshall and co, and next week Frawley will be available and Ross will come back into the team. Geary will play reserves so we are starting to get a few back.

“Hannebery is progressing well and taking small steps. If we can keep building momentum, it’s a marathon so we will lose some soldiers but we need to replace them with quality as well.”

The Saints have won both of their games with both Marshall and Ryder back in the side after injury.