St Kilda’s midfield for the round-one clash against Melbourne has been further decimated after Lenny Hayes and Maverick Weller accepted one-match AFL suspensions from last weekend’s practice match loss to Greater Western Sydney.
Three-time best and fairest winner Hayes and Weller – who was rookie-listed by the Saints in the off-season after leaving Gold Coast – both declined to contest level-one striking charges.
Hayes was reported for striking Stephen Coniglio and Weller was charged with striking Tomas Bugg.
It adds to the Saints’ woes ahead of their opening home-and-away clash against the Demons on March 22.
Reigning club champion Jack Steven will miss up to three months with a serious foot injury, while fellow star on-baller Leigh Montagna will also sit out the clash with Melbourne due to a one-match ban hanging over from last season.
It means that Melbourne will start as short-priced favourites in their first home-and-away match under new coach Paul Roos, despite winning only two games last year.
The tribunal will not sit on Tuesday night after all players charged in the final round of the NAB Challenge submitted early guilty pleas.
Sydney star Ryan O’Keefe and Geelong utility Billie Smedts both accepted reprimands and 93.75 carry-over points for striking charges.
West Coast’s Scott Selwood was fined $900 for pushing Sydney’s Craig Bird into the path of an umpire.