A Savage shock as Saints look to Shane

Former Hawk in for clash with Tigers

STKildahaspul led a major selection surprise recalling Shane Savage for only his second game of the season in Friday night’s semi-final against Richmond.

The former Hawk managed his only game in Round 9 when he had 14 touches against Sydney but has got the nod to replace suspended Ben Long in the cut throat final.

Running machine Savage, 29, is one of three changes for the Saints, with Josh Battle and former Pie Jon at h on Marsh replacing Jake Carlisle( personal) and Paddy Ryder (hamstring).

The Tigers have made two changes, welcoming back premiership spearhead Tom Lynch and intercepting defender Nathan Broad for Jake

Aarts and Mabior Chol. The decision to drop Chol means defender Noah Bal ta and possibly Broad will assist in the ruck in the back half.

Lynch, who returns from a hamstring injury, will help share the ruck duties with Toby Nankervi sin attack.

Utility Josh Caddy, who played in the Tigers’ 2017 and 2019 premiership sides, has missed out on selection and was named an emergency.

Caddy was dropped after having only eight possessions against Adelaide in Round 18.

The Saints will start clear outsiders after a pulsating lastgasp win over the Western Bulldogs helped clinch their first finals victory since 2010.

The loss of top-line talls Ryder and Carlisle, who were both excellent in the triumph over the Bulldogs, is a massive blow to the Saints’ hopes of stopping the reigning premier.

And Savage’s surprise callup means the Kiwi will get a big job trying to help curtail the threat Richmond’s small forwards pose in the forward halfandmidfield.

Similarly, the Saints have turned to versatile tall Marsh after only five games this year, while Battle could also help out in either half on Friday night after missing the win over the Dogs with a foot issue.

StKilda shocked Richmond by 26 points earlier this season at Docklands but Lynch’s return will give the Tigers a massive boost in their bid to notch a fourth-straight preliminary final.

Lynch booted nine goals in the club’s three finals last year and has had 28 day store cover from a hamstrings train.