St Kilda backline pair Angus Hastie and James Barrat have shown significant growth across the early part of the VFL season.
Coach Brendon Goddard lauded Barrat's defensive game, with his improved strength and craft an important part for the Saints' VFL side in their first three games of the year.
With an inexperienced VFL list and limited AFL players available for selection, Barrat was the most experienced defender in the first fortnight, and handled the task of defending star forward Corey Ellison with aplomb.
He backed it up with five marks and another strong defensive effort in Round 3.
“His last month of footy, pre-season games have been strong and has been building which led to his best game of VFL as an AFL player,” St Kilda coach Brendon Goddard said of his Round 2 effort.
“I'm pleased for him, he's been working hard not only on his physical stuff but also his mental stuff. As these young players come in, it's actually hard to stay in the game mentally for 120 minutes, their ability to concentrate and think their way through a game is difficult.
“As a young group, he (was) the most experienced defender down there in terms of games played.
“Watching the tape back, his leadership and how he's growing in that space was probably more pleasing than the job he did on Ellison.”
Providing a strong platform for players to push for AFL opportunities has been a key component of the Saints starting their own VFL side.
Despite three losses to start the VFL season, the Saints have competed hard in each game, allowing AFL-listed players' strengths to shine and unlocking quality development for VFL-listed players.
The autonomy associated with owning all the football decisions with their VFL side has allowed Barrat to flourish, alongside Hastie, who has shown pleasing growth as he seeks to add to his 14 AFL games.
Hastie backed up a 32-disposal effort in Round 2 where he was arguably his side's best with 20 touches on Sunday.
“He's got great agility and speed. We've just been working on finding the balance between attacking and defending,” Goddard told Zero Hanger.
“Even his position at stoppages as the highest half back, he's been really good. In the last two or three months he's delved into the mental side of his game and improving that and I know it's a throwaway line but it's an important part for young players to embrace the mental side and improve it and it's coming together for him.”
