Saints fill final list spot with promising forward; Injury setbacks at Tigers, Bombers
In today’s AFL briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Saints turn to teenage key forward to round out playing list
- Injuries at Richmond and Essendon ahead of pre-season games
Stephen Silvagni’s first official signing as St Kilda’s list boss has a Carlton flavour to it.
The Saints on Monday signed a second former Blue this summer, adding 196-centimetre forward Anthony Caminiti, who could be part of the club’s goalkicking solution in Max King’s absence.
Caminiti, 19, spent parts of the last two seasons playing for Northern Knights in the newly renamed Talent League, including three goals in an elimination final last year.
Anthony Caminiti has been picked up by the Saints.Credit:AFL Photos
He was set to play for Carlton’s VFL side this season while starting an engineering degree at Monash University, but his life has changed in a big way since St Kilda invited him to start training with them a week ago.
An eye-catching aerial performance in an internal match simulation on Friday sealed Caminiti’s passage to the Saints’ list. He follows Liam Stocker, who played 28 games for the Blues, in joining St Kilda via the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).
“I’m so excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Caminiti said.
“It’s been a long road to get here, but now that I have this chance I’m going to do everything in my power to prove this was the right decision. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my teammates and coaches and can’t wait to really embrace my time here at RSEA Park.”
The Saints will not only be without star forward King (shoulder reconstruction) to start the season, but also mobile big man Jack Hayes (ACL) and 2020 first-round draftee Matt Allison (foot stress fracture). They previously trialled former Bomber Josh Eyre, but parted ways with him shortly after a hamstring setback.
Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond and Western Bulldogs still have a list vacancy ahead of the SSP deadline on Wednesday.
The Dockers have chosen to leave their spot open for the mid-season draft, informing candidates Liam Serong – brother of star Docker Caleb and untried Hawk Jai – and Sam Stubbs they would not be signed.
Injury setbacks at Tigers, Bombers
Essendon young gun Ben Hobbs has suffered a calf strain and will miss at least the Bombers’ first practice match on February 23 as the build-up to round one gathers steam.
Essendon midfielder Ben Hobbs’ pre-season is on hold due to a calf strain.Credit:Getty Images
The 19-year-old midfielder, who played 17 senior games in his debut season, was Essendon’s top pick in the 2021 draft and is one of the club’s most promising players.
The Bombers’ general manager of performance, Daniel McPherson, said an MRI scan confirmed Hobbs had a low-grade strain, which will sideline him for the next few weeks.
“Ben has completed a full pre-season up to this point, and we expect him to recover quickly,” McPherson said. “His calf has settled quickly and should only require a small de-load before he re-enters the program in the coming weeks.”
Matt Guelfi, who is also recovering from a calf strain, has resumed running but will also miss the practice match against Gold Coast. Reigning club champion Peter Wright (calf) and Jake Stringer (back) hope to be available.
Meanwhile, Richmond’s triple premiership-winning small forward Jason Castagna suffered what the Tigers have described as a “medium-term hamstring tear” in intraclub match simulation on Saturday. Castagna, who was already under increased pressure to retain his senior spot, is in serious doubt for Richmond’s traditional round one clash with Carlton on March 16.
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