St Kilda coach Ross Lyon admits star recruits Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni will need off-season shoulder surgery after playing out their season in pain, while Suns boss Damien Hardwick claims his club could play hardball should superstar spearhead Ben King try to leave.
In front of a paltry 14,429 fans at Marvel Stadium, the Suns came away with a 23-point win over the injury-ravaged Saints who were without the likes of superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, key forward Max King, midfield recruit Sam Flanders, the versatile Mason Wood and gun ball user Jack Sinclair, while Silvagni was in obvious pain and De Koning was forced off with a suspected dislocated shoulder in the final minute.
Jack Silvagni of the Saints reacts to an knock to his shoulder.Getty Images
Lyon said Suns stars Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and the rest of their on-ball brigade “took us to the cleaners”, while noting at least eight Saints were due for off-season surgery.
He added St Kilda would look at both mature and younger recruits over the off-season, with the aim of adding more depth to their list.