Training Saints preseason 2026

[gringo2011]

Is it a risk having Said nominate for the draft considering how shit this draft is?

There is so much good recycled talent in that list. Said wouldn't get much interest.

 

[Zzzed]

It will be very interesting to see the round one side. I can’t imagine we brought in Ryan if we weren’t going to play him. But I can’t see Higgins, Ryan and Butler in the same side (let alone Collard).

Our last finals match featured Butler, Higgins and Gresham all roaming the forward line.
Now we also have King, Sharmann, owens , maybe one of Wilson and Hall rotating through as well . Good problems to have !

 

[gringo2011]

Our last finals match featured Butler, Higgins and Gresham all roaming the forward line.
Now we also have King, Sharmann, owens , maybe one of Wilson and Hall rotating through as well . Good problems to have !

We now have King, Wood, Wilson, Butler, Sharman, Snags, Hall, Flanders, Henry, Phillipou, Owens who are all able to kick multiple goals and Keeler, Boxshall, Marshall, LOC, TDK all potential high scorers.

That's a lot of potential firepower.

 

[kosifantutti]

Our last finals match featured Butler, Higgins and Gresham all roaming the forward line.
Now we also have King, Sharmann, owens , maybe one of Wilson and Hall rotating through as well . Good problems to have !

King, Sharman and Owens all played in our last final with Butler, Higgins and Gresham.

 

[Sully111]

Coaching and injuries are the 2 things that will impact from here.

We have enough talent on our list to compete.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Can anyone explain - in words of one syllable - the machinations of a list make up.

I understand not all of a rookie’s salary fall under the salary cap, but is it flexible how many primary list players vs how many rookie listed players you can have? I know back in the day you were only able to promote and play rookies in certain circumstances, like long term injuries, but that appears no longer to be the case.

And then the whole category B thing - how does that work, and is that how we get the Irish players?

Apologies, I’m a bit of a draft dummy.
But this is the time now when I should know what’s going on.

 

[stavro#4]

I think we'll just have more rookies than before

Our 2025 list structure was 38 primary and 6 rookies - which is the most primary list players you can have according to AFL rules

Every chance we end up with 36 or 37 on the primary list in 2026 - more rookie contracts likely means more candidates to delist at year's end whilst saving some money

Said would be on a 2 year deal from his draft year.

So what you said makes zero sense with relevancy to him. As would delisting Byrnes and moving him to the rookie list and then delisting him in 2026.

You could get the same outcome leaving him listed.

The likely outcome is that they have there eyes on a couple of boys and that will impact the above and nothing to do with “ more rookie contracts likely means more candidates to delist at year's end”

 

[stavro#4]

 

[akaifu]

Says here that Byrnes will be SSP train-on so no guarantees

 

[SaintWrld]

Says here that Byrnes will be SSP train-on so no guarantees

The numbers they show here regarding our list size is all over the shop and doesn’t add up. We have 3 Irishman now not 2, and if we have in fact delisted Byrnes then we can’t have 37 on the primary list. These are also not our draft picks according to the final draft order.

 

[akaifu]

The numbers they show here regarding our list size is all over the shop and doesn’t add up. We have 3 Irishman now not 2, and if we have in fact delisted Byrnes then we can’t have 37 on the primary list. These are also not our draft picks according to the final draft order.

Yeah no those numbers are definitely wrong but hopefully the SSP part is correct

 

[TheJackal]

Can anyone explain - in words of one syllable - the machinations of a list make up.

I understand not all of a rookie’s salary fall under the salary cap, but is it flexible how many primary list players vs how many rookie listed players you can have? I know back in the day you were only able to promote and play rookies in certain circumstances, like long term injuries, but that appears no longer to be the case.

And then the whole category B thing - how does that work, and is that how we get the Irish players?

Apologies, I’m a bit of a draft dummy.
But this is the time now when I should know what’s going on.

This table tells you everything. But things to note:

• Max list size is 44
• Max Cat B rookies is 2 (which we have 2 Irish on) - but they still count towards total rookies.
• Each primary list can have between 36 & 38, the rest made up of rookies.
• Base rookie wage ($100k per player) doesn't count towards salary cap
• Keep in mind we have LOC & Hall there now as rooks. 'Rumours' that Byrnes & Said to be moved there as well.

 

[Teflon]

100% correct.
Dilena will be very good from here on no doubt, but he’s late to the party.
This was definitely driven by Bassat - it’s been a couple of years in the making already and he’s going to continue being the driver.

As discussed already on here, I don’t know all the inner workings, but hopefully plans are being made for the constitution to be altered to give him an extension.

It’s actually amazing how well he and RTB work together given they are both, quite obviously, A-type personalities with healthy egos.

100%
Need to keep Bassatt he’s been huge in making us relevant again
Lyon too
Nice to have some genuine smart leadership at the top

 

[SaintWrld]

Why does the AFL have the most ridiculously over complicated list rules.

Why can’t they just have a flat 44 list spots and 1 draft. No rookie lists etc.
No minimum draft selections (maybe a total over a 3 year period that needs to be met to keep the AFLPA happy, average of 2 per year).

1st round draftees receive a 3 year contract, 2nd and 3rd round 2 year contract, 4th onwards is up to the liberty of the club whether it is 1 or 2 year deals. All delisted or train on players can sign after the draft as free agents.

The whole rookie list thing is so outdated.

 

[Significant]

In: TDK, JSOS, Ryan, Flanders (Senior - 4)
Out: Steele, Heath, Byrnes, Jones, Schoenmaker, Cordy, Webster (Seniors - 7), Boyd, McLennan (Rookie - 2)

With Caminiti being upgraded, this means we have 2 picks at the National Draft.

If Said has also been delisted, this means we have 3 picks at the National Draft.

With Caminiti being upgraded, and Boyd and McLennan being delisted, we will have 3 picks at the Rookie Draft.

I THINK I read somewhere that you can have 3 Irishmen on your Cat B list, however there is conflicting information online.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

We now have King, Wood, Wilson, Butler, Sharman, Snags, Hall, Flanders, Henry, Phillipou, Owens who are all able to kick multiple goals and Keeler, Boxshall, Marshall, LOC, TDK all potential high scorers.

That's a lot of potential firepower.

Nek Minnit - bomb it long on top of Kings head.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Why does the AFL have the most ridiculously over complicated list rules.

Why can’t they just have a flat 44 list spots and 1 draft. No rookie lists etc.
No minimum draft selections (maybe a total over a 3 year period that needs to be met to keep the AFLPA happy, average of 2 per year).

1st round draftees receive a 3 year contract, 2nd and 3rd round 2 year contract, 4th onwards is up to the liberty of the club whether it is 1 or 2 year deals. All delisted or train on players can sign after the draft as free agents.

The whole rookie list thing is so outdated.

It makes them sound as if they know what they’re doing.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

100%
Need to keep Bassatt he’s been huge in making us relevant again
Lyon too
Nice to have some genuine smart leadership at the top

Hes near the end of his term limit.
We would have to change the constitution for him to stay longer

 

[CaptainRisky]

A wild Ronnie Byrnes spotted also. Really hope its as an SSP train-on

Whats a Wild Ronnie Byrnes look like as i didn't know they existed

 

[TheJackal]

I THINK I read somewhere that you can have 3 Irishmen on your Cat B list, however there is conflicting information online.

There is indeed conflicting information on this but its a moot point really since Cat B rookies are still counted towards the total number of rookies allowed on a list. So whether LOC is sitting there as Cat A or Cat B doesn't matter at all - he's still a rook.

The only advantage you have by using the Cat B rookie list is that these kids don't need to be drafted.

 

[CaptainRisky]

So just take him as an SSP on a 1 year rookie deal

2 senior spots for Fincher/late pick + Jev/late pick

Byrnes + Wanganeen/rookie pick on rookie list

I don't see any point in putting Byrnes or Wang on the rookie list , i would rather give those two spots to young fellas who may have the potential to be a quality players instead of someone who at best is only going to be a fill in if we get lots of injuries.

 

[CaptainRisky]

Sharminator should not be forgotten. Would love him to turn into our Gunston with Hammer and King as the power forwards, with maybe a generational forward like Viking having a brief respite up forward as well .

Keeler to be Paddy Ryder 2.0 or Buddy Franklin is not too much to ask either, is it?

I thought Max was the Generational forward , That word gets thrown around way too easily

 

[Gavinmitchell11]

If some of these kids break out lie I expect, our list is stacked!
Can understand why they couldn’t foresee Steele getting a game.
Wilson I am sure is about to become a star.
Tauru, Phillipou I am hopeful as well.
Collard, Garcia,Travaglia, Boxshall, Windhager and Owen’s should all get better. Patrick Said a smokie too.
4 new walk up start additions, including and especially TDK with these new ruck rules.
Howard and King hopefully to return.
It’s a good to great list.
Oh and Nas, enough said.

 

[stavro#4]

He doesn’t really coach with the passion of some other coaches in terms of playing for the jumper and everything. He’s a great teacher,’’ Carter said.

“He teaches, ‘Do the one percenters, do everything right, please listen to your coaches and please understand we are a club on continuous improvement in everything we do’.’’

In Carter’s view, St Kilda has shown its high regard of Allan by hiring him as a line coach.
“In my speak, he’s jumped four rungs on the ladder overnight … who can knock that back?’’ he said.

“He’s not going into a development role. He’s come on as an assistant coach overnight. Michael Barlow, for example, went on (to North Melbourne) as a development coach. They have to go through the ranks, even if they’ve played a lot of games in the AFL. But the Saints have said, ‘Here’s your contract, you’re going to do a super job looking after the backline’.’’

Carter said St Kilda’s approach to Allan was a “whirlwind courting’’ and presented a “great opportunity for Jimmy to make that paradigm shift and be recognised as a future senior coach in everyone’s eyes’’.

 

[Grav]

A wild Ronnie Byrnes spotted also. Really hope its as an SSP train-on