SAINTS TO BREAK OUT OF ‘LYON’S CAGE’ WITH PACE
POSITION VACANT
IN what would be a Steven Bradburytype debut, there is a 196cm kid who was playing VFL for Carlton a month ago who is in the frame to line up as a key forward for St Kilda in round 1. His name is Anthony Caminiti, 19, and that would make for a hectic few days for the engineering student, who also has a linear algebra exam. There has been somewhat of a tall-forward curse at Moorabbin, with Max King, Jack Hayes, Tim Membrey, Matthew Allison and Isaac Keeler all unavailable for the Saints.
LYON’S SOLDIERS
EVERY Ross Lyon team has foot soldiers who squeeze every bit of performance out of their talent and play with total dedication … think of Sean Dempster, Zac Dawson, Tendai Mzungu and Matt De Boer. You have to wonder whether the likes of Mitchito Owens and Liam Stocker could become this generation’s workhorses, which usually means their magnets will be locked on the board every week.
POSITIONAL MOVES
UNCONTRACTED South Australian Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera appears set to be stationed behind the ball, often taking the kick-ins, with his delicate foot skills set to spark St Kilda’s ball movement. And Bradley Hill, who also played under Lyon at Fremantle, looks poised to return to the wing. Hunter Clark, the player who tried to get to North Melbourne last October, is likely to play as an inside midfielder this year, while fringe man Ben Paton could move up the ground to a wing after playing most of his games as a small defender.
ROSS 2.0 STYLE
WHEN Lyon was announced as Saints coach, he said clubs plotting to run down premier Geelong would need to run like the wind – a markedly different approach to the “Lyon Cage” game plan of 2009 and the defensive mastermind reputation he has long held. Through two practice matches, the endeavour to play fast through the corridor has been prevalent. It didn’t work against Melbourne because players turned the ball over, but neat hands in close to feed outside runners against Essendon showed this will be a team that plays to thrill.