Old Saints mates ready to shoulder workload

FORMER St Kilda teammates Tom Hickey and Rhys Stanley are set to face off in what shapes as one of the key match-ups of this year’s AFL grand final.

They spent 2013 and 2014 at the Saints before Stanley made the move to Geelong.

Hickey has since spent time with West Coast and is now the No. 1 ruckman at Sydney.

He is expected to take the first centre bounce of the grand final against Stanley on Saturday.

“Honestly, I pinch myself,” Hickey said.

“Me and Rhys were good mates at the Saints and it will be nice to come up against him tomorrow.”

While Stanley played in a losing grand final against Richmond

in 2020, it will be Hickey’s first premiership decider.

The 31-year-old joined West Coast at the end of the 2018 season, only weeks after the Eagles had celebrated a premiership.

“I was really envious in 2019 and 2020 when I was with those boys and wanted to get there again with them,” Hickey said.

“I’m so excited to be here with the 22 other guys on the field and have a red-hot crack.”

Surprise grand final inclusion Hayden McLean will assist Hickey in the ruck for the Swans, while forward Sam Reid could also provide support.

“(McLean) is good man,” Hickey said.

“He’s strong and a really good grab. He’s been playing some really good footy through the back half of this year.

“He’s probably been a bit stiff because the side’s so settled, but we’re confident in him to come in and take his opportunity.”

Hickey, who is contracted until the end of next season, was the Swans’ top-ranked player in the preliminary final win against Collingwood with 15 disposals and 27 hitouts.