Tim Watson suspects Jake Carlisle's omission from St Kilda’s side to face West Coast could be something to do with his attitude.
The 28-year-old key defender hasn’t played at AFL level since the Saints’ Round 13 loss to Brisbane and remains out of contract at season’s end.
Carlisle was named as an emergency for Thursday night’s clash against the Eagles and Watson said St Kilda may view him as being “on the edge” of selection.
“I think it’s more to do with his attitude to be quite honest,” Watson said on SEN Breakfast.
“They may think that he’s on the edge and they’re still trying to get the best out of him consistently, so I think it’s more about that."
Garry Lyon explained the possible thought process behind leaving Carlisle out of the side, with the Saints poised to play a smaller side against West Coast, who are widely known as one of the best aerial sides in the competition.
“This is a forward line that has (Oscar) Allen, (Josh) Kennedy, (Jack) Darling and (Jake) Waterman so St Kilda might (opt) to stretch them,” he said.
“This is the other side of the coin – the Saints at the Gabba tonight may work over time to get the ball to ground as the Eagles aren’t a very good ground ball team so they might try and concede a bit in the air and hope they can halve a contest and get it to ground and work them over from that point of view.
“It’s what can be done on the air compared to what can be down on the ground and St Kilda I think is backing their ability to win the ground ball.”
St Kilda remain on the cusp of playing finals for the first time since 2011, sitting in sixth spot on the ladder with two rounds remaining.