With Benalla losing the vast majority of its premiership defence coach Luke Morgan had to look to within the playing stocks to find some replacements.
One of them to put their hand up and lock down a regular spot has been Nick Spencer.
The apprentice painter has played every game this year and he is the latest of the club’s young stars to win a Rising Star nomination.
The ruckman come defender is the Saints’ first nomination this year and he has really relished the opportunity given to him by Morgan.
He says advice from his boss Al Jacka and Morgan has really helped him tackle the challenge of locking down a spot as a key defender.
Spencer has played on both key forwards and the opposition’s resting ruckmen in the opening two months of the season.
After graduating from the club’s 2014 premiership thirds team, Spencer played a couple of games last year, debuting against Mansfield.
He believes the team that won last year’s premiership is well placed to launch its title defence, having lost only two games – both to the teams sitting above them on the ladder.
But he thinks finishing third might not be so bad.
“I think when Will Martiniello comes back into the team I think that is really going to help our chances if we are in contention come the finals,” he said.
Spencer has a very simple goal.
“I would like to be able to impact the game more, follow in the footsteps of Lachie Smith by taking some pack marks and just making sure I beat my opponent each week,” he said.
Despite not playing representative football at under-age level, Spencer would like to build up his game to be in contention to play for the league at senior level in two to three years time.
Last Modified on 27/09/2016 17:21