Young Saint Alix Tauru faces another lengthy suspension on a rough conduct charge in the VFL at a time St Kilda are suffering after a weekend of injury carnage to star players.
The VFL match review officer sent Tauru’s bump on Footscray’s Stirling Phipps-Parsons straight to the tribunal, where he could cop at least a three-match ban. The incident was graded as severe impact, high contact and careless conduct.
Saints star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera also received a $1000 fine on Monday for “flipping the bird” at a vocal group of Western Bulldogs fans late in the club’s 22-point defeat at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Wanganeen-Milera will be able to comfortably afford the modest sanction, given he inked a two-year deal worth $2 million annually last August.
Tauru received a four-game sanction for a front-on bump last year, and a two-match suspension for striking in May.
Another of the 19-year-old defender’s bumps in that latter game was downgraded from a one-match ban to a fine, so he has repeatedly found trouble on field since St Kilda used the No.10 pick on him in the 2024 draft.
Tauru’s situation comes on top of key Saints pair Jack Sinclair and Tom De Koning bracing for an extended period out with injuries from the Bulldogs loss.
Scans on Monday confirmed Sinclair avoided an Achilles rupture, but suffered a high-grade right calf injury and his season may be over, while ex-Blue De Koning went to hospital on Sunday night and is dealing with two broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Sinclair is a dual All-Australian who has played 20 games or more in seven of the past eight seasons, and had not missed a match this season.
“It’s really disappointing for Jack, and we’re all behind him as he begins his recovery,” St Kilda’s football boss Lenny Hayes said.
“Jack has done a terrific job since being elevated to co-captain this season, and we know he’ll continue to provide an important leadership and support role within our group off the field throughout his recovery.
“Despite Tom initially showing no signs of internal damage, our decision to send him to hospital was taken with every precaution. Tom’s health and wellbeing remain our No.1 priority, and we will be right behind him as he navigates this challenging recovery.”
Fellow ruckman Rowan Marshall also underwent scans on his left shoulder despite playing out the match, but has been cleared of serious injury.
The Saints will reassess all three players after their bye this weekend.
St Kilda, who are a game outside the top 10 in 12th position with a 6-9 record, went down by 22 points in a match with potential finals ramifications.
These latest injuries add to a casualty ward at Moorabbin that includes another recruit, Sam Flanders (Achilles), Dougal Howard (calf) and Hunter Clark (knee).
Star spearhead Max King is fit again, but completing a conditioning block after a long-term knee injury that required several surgeries before a hamstring issue delayed his return further as he tries to build up for his first AFL game in two years.
The Saints started the season with heightened expectations after an off-season spending spree that netted them De Koning, Flanders, Liam Ryan and Jack Silvagni.
But they are one of three clubs, along with Richmond and Collingwood, without a win against a top-10 team this season.
St Kilda’s record against that level of opposition is 0-8, with a percentage south of 80, compared to six wins from seven matches against sides placed 11th or lower.
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