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The order of merit: St Kilda Saints 2021 season

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Roar Guru
8th March, 2021
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Who are the Saints players who should play to their optimum level in season 2021? To be eligible for selection, a player must have played at least five games in 2020, so there can be a reference point as far as those players who apply their talent the best at AFL level.

The Saints have a few concerns, with a few injuries and a suspension going into Round 1.

Here are the ten players (plus an honourable mention) who will stand out from the pack in season 2021.

Honourable mention
Jack Higgins is a player who should benefit from being traded by the Tigers, as he should get more opportunity at the Saints.

He will improve dramatically on the output he displayed for Richmond in 2020 – he only featured in ten of 21 games they played in. Despite playing in the forward line, he averaged 14.50 disposals per game.

If the opening game of the pre-season is a sign of things to come, he will be a valuable part of the Saints’ best 22 in season 2021.

10. Jack Sinclair
Sinclair only featured in 12 of 19 games the Saints played in season 2020. If the first game of the pre-season is anything to go by, he should play every game he is fit and available for in season 2021.

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He has yet to show his full potential. A key indicator that he is capable of playing well in season 2021 is that he averaged the tenth-most disposals of any Saint last season, despite missing seven games.

The ball’s in his court – if he works hard, he can become a regular part of the Saints’ best 22 in 2021.

9. Rowan Marshall
Marshall is a pivotal part of the Saints team. He always endeavours to play well, but unfortunately, he is carrying a foot injury into season 2021, so hopefully he returns to the Saints line-up as soon as possible.

In season 2020 he showed how highly rated he is internally, as he finished fourth in the Saints best and fairest and featured in every game.

Josh Bruce of the Bulldogs is challenged Rowan Marshall of the Saints

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

8. Sebastian Ross
Sebastian Ross showed glimpses of what he is capable of in season 2020, where he finished tenth in the Saints best and fairest, despite missing three games. He has also been added to the Saints’ seven-man leadership group for season 2021.

Ross should benefit from that honour and play close to his optimum level throughout the duration of season 2021.

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7. Jack Billings
Billings should be motivated due to being selected in the seven-man leadership group for season 2021. He had a slightly disappointing season in 2020 – despite featuring in all 19 games that the Saints played, he failed to finish in the top ten of the best and fairest.

He still averaged the third-most disposals of any Saints player in season 2020, which showed he didn’t miss out through lack of trying.

6. Zak Jones
Zak Jones finished sixth in the Saints’ best and fairest in season 2020, despite missing three games.

The only thing that concerns me about Jones is whether or not he stays fit and available for the season in its entirety in season 2021.

5. Hunter Clark
Clark is unlucky to be selected in fifth, but what it does show is that he can improve. If the first pre-season game is a sign of things to come, he will show more endeavour to finish higher than ninth in the best and fairest, as he did in 2020.

4. Tim Membrey
Tim Membrey missed just one game in season 2020.

He should improve in season 2021 and finish in the top-ten of the Saints’ best and fairest.

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In season 2021, a catalyst for him improving his output and playing close to his optimum level should be due to the fact that he is a part of the seven-man Saints leadership group.

Pressure for spots should also have a positive impact on Membrey; the Saints have him, Max King and have recruited Shaun McKernan and Mason Wood and they also have Rowan Marshall, who is a ruck/forward coming back from injury.

Tim Membrey

Saints’ Tim Membrey in action (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

3. Dan Butler
Butler had an extremely good season in 2020 as he was a part of the All Australian squad of 40 and finished second in the Saints’ best and fairest.

He should gain confidence in season 2021, after having an outstanding season in 2020. All he needs to do is get a bit better and the Saints will be contenders.

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2. Nick Coffield
Coffield can improve on his display in season 2020 this year.

In season 2020, he finished fifth in the best and fairest and he featured in all but one game. He averaged the ninth-most disposals of any Saints player in season 2020, which is a lot for someone who plays in defence.

1. Jack Steele
Jack Steele had an exceptional season in 2020, which was vindicated by being selected on the interchange bench in the All Australian team and winning the Saints’ best and fairest, comfortably.

More of the same should occur, therefore it was a no brainer to choose him first in the order of merit for the Saints in season 2021.

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