AFL Media journalist Josh Gabelich has been keeping a close eye on the St Kilda Football Club this pre-season and has been impressed by young Saint Matthew Allison.
Allison, who hasn’t been sighted at AFL level, was snapped up by the Saints with their first pick in the 2020 draft.
Standing at 195cm and with an ability to kick goals, Allison looms as a potential replacement for star forward Max King who will miss the start of the year with a shoulder injury.
“The big question mark at the moment is how they’re going to replace Max King in the early stages of this season,” Gabelich told SEN Mornings.
“He’s going to leave a big hole in that first month and they hope he’s going to be back by around Round 5, but in those early stages, what do they do?
“Tim Membrey is really their only other seasoned option there, they brought in Zaine Cordy but they want to use him as a key defender.
“They’re looking at Matty Allison, they took him at pick 26 only a couple of years ago and they haven’t trialled him yet at AFL level.
“He’s had a really strong session today (Friday), I know it’s only small sample sizes but he took two really big contested marks and kick two good goals, so he might be something they look to explore across this pre-season and heading into that early stages of next year.”
Max King enjoyed a career-best season in 2022, kicking 52 goals.
St Kilda kicks off its 2023 campaign with a Round 1 clash against Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, March 19.