Team v Richmond

[Kildonan]

Three changes for Tigers clash
6 April 2006

St Kilda has made three changes to its side for Friday night's clash with Richmond at Telstra Dome with new recruit Fergus Watts among the players left out.

Watts made his debut for the Saints last round against West Coast at Subiaco, after he was traded to St Kilda at the end of the 2004 season. He played five matches with Adelaide in 2004.

The Saints have also dropped veteran Justin Peckett and forward Allan Murray.

Returning for the red, white and black is leadership group member Xavier Clarke, who has battled hamstring problems in recent times, while Aaron Fiora and Leigh Montagna will also play their first match for St Kilda in 2006.

Both Fiora and Montagna were emergencies for last round's clash against West Coast.

St Kilda coach Grant Thomas confirmed on Thursday that key Saint Justin Koschitzke was likely to return either next week against the Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome or at the latest in round four against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Richmond has dropped three players - including young-gun Richard Tambling - after the club's 115-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in the opening round of the season.

The Tigers have also left out David Rodan, who played his first AFL match last round after he missed the entire 2005 home-and-away season with a knee injury, while emerging tall Adam Pattison has also been omitted.

Coming into the side is ruckman Greg Stafford, young backman Will Thursfield and defender/midfielder Brent Hartigan for round two.

RICHMOND v ST KILDA
Friday, 7:40pm AEST, Telstra Dome

RICHMOND
B: Newman, Gaspar, Schulz
HB: Kellaway, J.Bowden, Raines
C: Deledio, Coughlan, Hyde
HF: Pettifer, Richardson, P.Bowden
F: Brown, Stafford, Krakouer
FOLL: Simmonds, Tuck, Johnson
I/C: Foley, Hartigan, Thursfield, Tivendale
EMG: Pattison, Jackson, Roach
IN: Stafford, Hartigan, Thursfield
OUT: Pattison, Rodan, Tambling
NEW: -

ST KILDA
B: S.Fisher, Hudghton, Voss
HB: Baker, Maguire, Gram
C: Dal Santo, Hayes, Goddard
HF: Fiora, Riewoldt, Montagna
F: Milne, Gehrig, Hamill
FOLL: Ackland, Harvey, Ball
I/C: X.Clarke, Thompson, Blake, Powell
EMG: Peckett, Schwarze, Watts
IN: X.Clarke, Fiora, Montagna
OUT: Murray, Watts, Peckett
NEW: -

Field umpires: Margetts, McLaren, McInerney

 

[JeffDunne]

Looks a much better team with Clarke back and it really shows the folly in the argument our window is closing. Replace the three other bench players in the squad with Raph Clarke, Kosi and McQualter/L Fisher and it's clear our best 22 is made up mostly of players yet to hit their prime.

 

[sainter]

It seems a far more balanced team on paper and it will look even better in the next couple of weeks.

 

[danheffoz]

Heard a rumour that Ball is out for Peckett.
Anyone else heard this?

 

[sammm]

Heard a rumour that Ball is out for Peckett.
Anyone else heard this?

seems it has been confirmed. has an abstrain will be in next week.

 

[sante]

So he is confirmed out?

 

[Axcellence]

Yes, he's out.

Which means more midfield work for Montagna / others.

 

[Kildonan]

Which can only be a good thing

(Not Ball being out, but more work for the others)