James Sicily is one of those irreplaceable players, but the situation remains: for the next 12 months, he’ll need to be replaced.

Coach Alastair Clarkson pondered the predicament in this morning’s press conference.

“We’ve got a series of guys who can play in that spot,” Clarkson said.

“We tried Sicily forward in three of the last four games in patches of the games, so whilst he’s been out of our defence in that time we’ve needed to cover for him anyway.

“We’ve got some younger type of players (coming through), Will Day has come into the side and Jack Scrimshaw has played pretty consistently this year, young CJ played his first game for the year last week.”

“None of them are right at the moment are ready made replacements for James Sicily, as he’s been doing that role really well for us for the last three of four years now.

“So it’s too hard to say that someone’s going to fit into that spot nice and easily and pick up from where he left off.

“But someone’s going to need to fill that spot regardless, and we’ll see if we can get it from those three young players.”

Watch Clarkson’s press conference below for more information ahead of Saturday’s clash with Port Adelaide.