Saints axe Steele for crunch match

ST KILDA recruit Jack Steele has been dropped for tonight’s crunch match against North Melbourne, while key forward Paddy McCartin could miss just one AFL game after scans cleared him of more serious knee damage.

Coach Alan Richardson confirmed yesterday morning that Steele, recruited from GWS in the off season, will be dropped, with the Saints also set to lose Nathan Wright to a shoulder injury.

Veteran Nick Riewoldt will return from two games out with a knee injury. Richardson said there had been concerns that McCartin had more serious bone damage, but the scan results were better than expected.

“It’s disappointing for Paddy – at one stage yesterday it looked like a chance to be something quite sinister,” Richardson said.

“But that scans have come back relatively positive, so we’re optimistic now that it might only be the week.

Key defender Jake Carlisle could be a late withdrawal after he suffered a knock against Adelaide, but Richardson thinks he will play. The Saints have lost their past three matches.