AFL 2021 Chopping Block: St Kilda stars face the axe, Premiership Tiger on notice

Kieran Francis

AFL 2021 Chopping Block: St Kilda stars face the axe, Premiership Tiger on notice image

Several St Kilda guns including star recruits Brad Hill and Dan Butler could face the axe ahead of the Saints' crunch match against West Coast on Saturday.

After being humiliated to the tune of 75 points by Essendon over the Easter weekend, Saints coach Brett Ratten is likely to make several changes as he attempts to recover a winning formula.

Hill - who was recruited on a big-money deal from Fremantle for the 2020 season - has struggled for consistency in the red, white and black jumper, even with the team's improvement last season.

There was a thought that Hill would thrive under the roof at Marvel Stadium with the longer quarters this season, but instead the former Hawthorn premiership player has turned the ball over regularly and looked significantly short of his best form.

Butler, who was desperately unlucky to miss the All Australian team last season, did manage to kick the sealer in the Saints' round one win against the Giants, but has struggled to find the ball in the two matches since - and isn't applying the defensive pressure he is renowned for.

Other St Kilda players at threat of being dropped include Josh Battle, Jack Lonie, Ben Long and Shaun McKernan.

Richmond premiership star Shai Bolton will be on notice after failing to have an impact as the Tigers were thumped by Sydney on Saturday.

Shai Bolton Richmond

Bolton only managed seven disposals as her failed to work his way into the game while the Swans dominated the middle of the ground.

The 22-year-old's outstanding performances last season will likely mean he isn't dropped after one match, but he will want to have an impact as the team faces a tough trip to Port Adelaide.

Ken Hinkley's side are coming off a 37-point defeat to West Coast at Optus Stadium, with Peter Ladhams at threat of being axed after gathering only five disposals - particularly when the Power went tall with Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades as forward.

Carlton veteran Eddie Betts will see his place in the team discussed this week ahead of the match against Gold Coast, after gathering only four disposals and kicking one goal in the big win against Fremantle. 

Midfielder Paddy Dow has also struggled to find consistency in the early rounds of the season.

Suns goalsneak Alex Sexton could find himself facing the chop as he only managed one shot at goal and five disposals in the defeat to Adelaide.

Collingwood have started the season 1-2 and forward Will Hoskin-Elliott could find himself on the outer as he fails to have an impact in attack.

Hoskin-Elliott dropped a crucial mark in the last quarter against Brisbane and only picked up six possessions for the match,

With Fremantle missing Joel Hamling, Alex Pearce and Griffin Logue as tall defenders through injury, Brennan Cox will want to lift his output before their return, only managing six disposals and being a part of the defence that conceded seven goals to Harry McKay.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.