Essendon great Matthew Lloyd wonders whether 2025 might just be it for St Kilda captain Jack Steele.
The 29-year-old has played 18 games for the club this season, averaging 20.9 disposals per game, the lowest during his time at the Saints.
Steele was used as the substitute during the side’s round 21 win over North Melbourne, coming on in the final term and finding eight disposals.
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However, even then he was beaten at a crucial stoppage late in the game despite having the fresher legs.
Lloyd feels the Saints have “gone past” Steele in the midfield, given their younger generation of players coming through and the toll of playing an inside midfielder role in the modern game.
“It’s a big call for St Kilda at the end of the year,” Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He’s contracted for next year. I think they’ve gone past him.
A disappointed Jack Steele and Jack Sinclair of the Saints. Getty
“You’re captain of the club, I can understand him losing the captaincy and then saying ‘I’m just going to try and fight for my position’.
“I’m not sure if there’s another opportunity for him anywhere else.
“He seems to have lost his confidence.”
Key defender Callum Wilkie and star flanker Jack Sinclair currently serve as the club’s vice captains, should a leadership change occur.
Geelong great Jimmy Bartel suggested on Nine’s Footy Furnace that Steele could be a perfect fit for a side like West Coast, a team that lacks midfield leadership.
“They should be exploring the same thing North Melbourne did with Jack Darling and Luke Parker,” Bartel said on Sunday.
“I’m talking about really experienced, really professional players who know how to go about their business.”
The Eagles have previously been called out for their lack of support for young star Harley Reid this season.
Jimmy Bartel’s veteran leaders West Coast could target this off-season. Nine
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon explained that the only reason Steele was made the substitute was to “freshen him up” after a long season.
“All year we have been conscious of trying to manage the big inside mids because they get hits,” Lyon said before his side’s win over North Melbourne.
“(Steele) was really sore last week, really sore neck, we played him and we put him at a disadvantage.
“We’ve decided to not manage him right out (of the team) … we freshen him up for next week and he’ll definitely start next week.”
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Steele will play his 200th AFL game when St Kilda takes on Richmond in round 22.
He has served as club captain since 2021, and made All-Australian teams in 2020 and 2021, winning St Kilda best and fairests in the same years.
He played 17 games for GWS between 2015 and 2016 before making the move to the Saints.
