What the Saints should do with Owens and Henry in 2025

It’s time for St Kilda to give more midfield time to Mitch Owens.

That is the opinion of Josh Jenkins who has urged Ross Lyon to throw the 21-year-old into the engine room rather than use him primarily as a forward.

Jenkins want the Saints to use Owens’ size and grunt around the ball as opposed to having him operate as a high attacker or in a defensive role around forward 50.

“Start playing Mitch Owens as a genuine mid,” Jenkins said on SEN’s The Run Home.

“I thought his role was difficult last year. He was asked to play as a defensive forward on occasions, he was asked to play a high half-forward role a bit.

“It’s very hard for him to be effective in a team that’s not a great scoring team, not a fluent ball movement team.

“I think this kid has got fast feet, quick hands, great size, is great in a contest. Brad Crouch has gone, Seb Ross has gone, I think Mitch Owens could go in there and be a clearance and tackling gun.”

Owens averaged just 12.3 disposals in 2024 and less than a clearance per game, but did kick 20 goals as St Kilda’s third highest scorer behind Jack Higgins (36) and the departed Tim Membrey (30).

Jenkins is also keen to see the Saints manufacture ways to frequently get the ball into the hands of Liam Henry.

In his first season with the Saints, the former Fremantle wingman was restricted to 12 games because of hamstring and knee injuries but was electric on occasion with his run and ball use.

“Keep inventing ways to get the ball in the hands of Liam Henry,” Jenkins added.

“Use him as a mid or an extra mid who charges through stoppage, use him as that striker type that we’ve heard clubs use and talk about. Line him up off the back of a stoppage.

“When he got the ball last year in a little bit of space great things happened for St Kilda. It jumps off the page or the screen at you because the other stuff you see from them in attack is not as threatening.

“Whenever he gets the ball good things seem to happen. So find ways and keep inventing ways to get Liam Henry in the game.”

Henry averaged 13.8 touches and 3.6 inside 50s for the Saints last year.

The Saints will continue preparing for the 2025 season with an unofficial practice match against Carlton at Ikon Park on February 22 and then the AAMI Community Series clash with Port Adelaide at RSEA Park on March 1.

They kick off the 2025 season against the Crows in Adelaide on March 16.