St Kilda fans should expect to see emerging youngster Mattaes Phillipou in the midfield on Sunday when the club takes on West Coast at Optus Stadium, says coach Ross Lyon.
Phillipou returned last week for his first game of the year, playing predominantly up forward after overcoming a fractured femur that interrupted his start to 2025.
But after two goals and 12 touches, the 20-year-old is tipped to spend more time around the ball, a position the Saints drafted him in.
"We're looking to play him a bit more midfield, we'll have to balance that up," Lyon said.
"We really liked him forward, he was dangerous, he kicked two goals โ we're going to have to figure that out.
"We drafted him to be a big inside mid, as we did (Tobie) Travaglia, as we did (Hugh) Boxshall and as we did (Hugo) Garcia.
"Really, (Jack) Macrae and Jack Steele are bringing those guys through. Hunter Clark got through last week, two weeks in a row now.
"He's a really good player for us, in particular experience. Zak Jones was really unwell the previous week or so, we're looking to build."
Utility Mason Wood will line up for St Kilda, pending that he gets through Friday's training session. Wood has graduated from concussion protocols and is expected to put his hand up for selection.
However, the Saints will lose in-form defender Liam Stocker to a foot injury that came as a surprise to the club.
"It's just a hotspot," Lyon said.
"Sometimes they can be six-to-eight (weeks). This one is more around the three-week mark.
"We got it early, it's a bit painful. It's a bit unusual to get one of them, in season, when the loads are decreasing. He's been in good form."
