Saints set to enter Opening Round in form after big win

Best mates Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Marcus Windhager starred for St Kilda in a comfortable AAMI Community Series victory over Essendon.

It was a powerful statement by the Saints, who have expectations entering the year after a recruiting spree in the off-season.

Wanganeen-Milera combined 28 disposals and four goals in a midfield-forward masterclass as he looks to assert himself as a star midfielder of the competition, while Windhager accumulated 41 disposals.

The trio of recruits all proved their value. Tom De Koning won a game-high 24 hitouts and helped St Kilda win clearances and contested possessions, while Sam Flanders was classy with 27 disposals and Liam Ryan kicked a goal and applied ferocious pressure.

As De Koning influenced around the contest, fellow ruck option Rowan Marshall was mostly stationed as a deep forward.

Mattaes Phillipou has given himself a strong foundation to launch into Opening Round next Sunday against Collingwood.

After managing just seven games last year, his 29 disposals and eight clearances in the midfield will give himself and the club confidence he can build on the imperious form he showed late in 2024.

Embed from Getty Images

Captain Cal Wilkie and Ryan Byrnes, meanwhile, did not play out the game due to a right ankle injury and corked calf respectively but the Saints expect both to be available next week.

Jack Sinclair was another noteworthy performer, finishing with 39 disposals.

For Essendon, Archie Roberts was more than capable in his new midfield role.

Having put his name in Rising Star contention last year as a hard-working defender, Roberts has spent pre-season training in the midfield and his speed and ball-winning stood out in a 29-disposal display.

Zak Johnson was a surprise packet off half-back, with the clean kicking that caught the eye when he got AFL exposure last year again coming to the fore.

The youngest player drafted in 2024, Johnson's first AFL pre-season was hampered by injury, but now with a full AFL pre-season under his belt, has made himself hard to ignore for Round 1 selection.

"Being able to put together a full pre-season at his age has been awesome and he's making great strides with the way he defends and attacks," Essendon Backline coach Ben Jacobs said.

"He's obviously a great ball-user, but you add in (Max Kondogiannis) and Jacob Farrow, they're all impressive, but they're all young."

Draftees Jacob Farrow and Dyson Sharp and Hussien El Achkar had moments of impact, while Lachie Blakiston's athleticism again shone through in the ruck, a week after getting the better of Richmond skipper Toby Nankervis.