Saints fly in Shanghai back-ups after three players fall ill
Dinny Navaratnam
Jun 1, 2019
ILLNESS is sweeping through the St Kilda camp and reinforcements are on their way, with Ben Paton and Nick Hind making a last-minute flight to China after Jack Billings, Shane Savage and Daniel McKenzie missed Saturday's training session.
That trio is in doubt to face Port Adelaide on Sunday afternoon but the club is confident all will take to the field.
Blake Acres has already been ruled out of the crunch clash after he fell ill, but the club says that was different to what the trio has contracted.
Hind and Paton were not among the four emergencies named for the clash. Should either of them end up playing, it is unclear whether the Saints would be penalised for fielding a player not originally named in the 26-man squad.
The illnesses haven't been confined to the players either, with coach Alan Richardson also feeling off-colour and missing his weekly press conference.
He was replaced by Lade but the assistant coach wasn't concerned about the three sick players being right to face the Power.
"We had a couple stay back at the hotel, but they’re all fine. Shane Savage, Dan McKenzie and Jack Billings," Lade said.
A club spokesperson said none of that trio went out for dinner on Friday.
Hard-nosed captain Jarryn Geary was called in to replace Acres. The Saints also have Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield and key defender Darragh Joyce as emergencies.
Hind is yet to debut and is a zippy backman while Ben Paton has been impressive down back in his six games this season, before a right knee issue kept him out of last week's win over Carlton.
Both were due to line up for Sandringham on Sunday against Coburg.
Richardson also skipped the training session.
"Richo's just feeling a little bit off, so he stayed at the hotel and will get a bit of rest and hopefully he'll be right tomorrow," Lade said.
Despite the complications, Lade insisted the side hadn't been deterred from making the trip to China.
It's the Saints first time in China, and they have signed an agreement to face the Power here in 2020 and 2021 as well.
"Definitely not (enough to put us off the experience). It's great coming here to Shanghai. I've been here the last two years with Port. For a group to come over and spend four or five days here, that's really good for the group and we just need to get the result now," Lade said.