Training Saints preseason 2026

[BrutThough]

He comes under the “uncertainty” banner. His body might be cooked (saw someone say earlier in the year that his back and knee/s are no good, plus the repeated soft-tissue injuries he had this season), so like say Hunter Clark, I’m not confident that he’s someone we can really bank on being consistently available.

Would be very handy if he is though. Potentially freeing up Wilkie or Tauru to play mainly an intercepting/rebounding role.

I'm a bit worried about Clark this season. Lots of strapping on his knee and if you start preseason like that, you are already starting behind everyone else. And with this body issues, he needs all the conditioning he can get.

 

[BrutThough]

How long will it take for them all to gel though?

Hopefully not too long.

Everyone needs to return fit because we probably need more focus on match sim and structures this preseason then previous ones.

 

[bergholt]

I'm a bit worried about Clark this season. Lots of strapping on his knee and if you start preseason like that, you are already starting behind everyone else. And with this body issues, he needs all the conditioning he can get.

Also keeps getting pushed back in the queue by younger players developing and established players being brought in. I like Clark but he's never played 20 games in a season, hard to see him getting much further at the Saints from here.

 

[jimmytigs]

I also managed to get down there yesterday and was impressed by Henry's shape. He looks much fitter then any point last year.

yep he looks fantastic,so much so that when i saw him 10 days ago,before resuming normal duties here in the bars of soi buakhao,i thought he might have been wanganeen,who i had no idea what he looked like

if he gets going for us he will be a weapon

 

[Tommy Wigs]

There are so many who look physically different from last year. We have all seen the likes of Hugo and Wilson but even Trav has got some definition going in the arms and he is running seems stronger and not like a yearling.
This is why I mentioned I thought the training dynamics had changed a fair bit. This time last year and the year before, it was just running running running. The two sessions I have seen is straight into drills and ball work, forward entry positioning and short field min contact match sim or transition work. Then at the end of the session there is perhaps 10 minutes repeat 200's and some laps.

To me this signifies what we have been working towards, draftees who have been matured over 2 plus year of intensive physical training and endurance through running. Game time was Lyon drilling his full defensive game.
Now we move on with a physically built team with four players coming in who are not skinny either.
The team you see next year is one that will physically chalkenge the established teams. If they can match them in skills is another matter.
Thats my initial take on 2026 pre season anyway.

Great post

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

I don't think it's how we will start, but if love the following backline by the end of next year:

FB LOC Silvani Wilkie
HB Sinclair Tauru Hastie

Great combo of dash, hard nuts, intercepting ability and X factor.

Also, bit random, but Leigh Mathews just walked passed as I was buying a Pho. Don't know if that's an omen, but I'm going to assume that's the universe telling me we've got a three peat on the horizon

 

[akaifu]

I don't think it's how we will start, but if love the following backline by the end of next year:

FB LOC Silvani Wilkie
HB Sinclair Tauru Hastie

Great combo of dash, hard nuts, intercepting ability and X factor.

Also, bit random, but Leigh Mathews just walked passed as I was buying a Pho. Don't know if that's an omen, but I'm going to assume that's the universe telling me we've got a three peat on the horizon

You haven't listed defence as a strength of the defensive line...

 

[wannabewinner]

It can be a borderline top 8 backline with Nas and Sinclair in cameos.

 

[stavro#4]

 

[aussierulesrules]

I'm a bit worried about Clark this season. Lots of strapping on his knee and if you start preseason like that, you are already starting behind everyone else. And with this body issues, he needs all the conditioning he can get.

Very happy to he proven wrong but I’ve pretty much put a line through him now.

Just unable to bank on him at all and he hasn’t been able to put it all together consistently when he has played, and his overall running ability is concerning, so for mine he’s now probably a depth guy, without an obvious position, who might be handy injury cover- if he’s not also injured at that time himself!

Hard to see him being one of our prime midfield options any more, so maybe he’ll train across HB and be one of the guys in the mix to play Nas’s previous role.

 

[beside the seaside]

I'm confused. Is this a recent injury?

 

[PoppedCorn]

Very happy to he proven wrong but I’ve pretty much put a line through him

Im the same
At peak he is in my 22 but we now have depth.

 

[austinnn]

There are so many who look physically different from last year. We have all seen the likes of Hugo and Wilson but even Trav has got some definition going in the arms and he is running seems stronger and not like a yearling.
This is why I mentioned I thought the training dynamics had changed a fair bit. This time last year and the year before, it was just running running running. The two sessions I have seen is straight into drills and ball work, forward entry positioning and short field min contact match sim or transition work. Then at the end of the session there is perhaps 10 minutes repeat 200's and some laps.

To me this signifies what we have been working towards, draftees who have been matured over 2 plus year of intensive physical training and endurance through running. Game time was Lyon drilling his full defensive game.
Now we move on with a physically built team with four players coming in who are not skinny either.
The team you see next year is one that will physically chalkenge the established teams. If they can match them in skills is another matter.
Thats my initial take on 2026 pre season anyway.

Really hope so. IMO one of our biggest weaknesses this year was lack of physicality. Love to see that that has at least been addressed.

Getting Lenny Hayes to review some Rugbyland tackling with the boys wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Skills under pressure is the big unknown, that was another weakness. Hope we will be sirting that our too. It could just be mental, but boy we were sloppy this year, even without pressure.

Ratts was onto something early with that mental stuff, you can see a few of the boys from that era still do the deep breaths eyes closed routine before set shots.

 

[austinnn]

At least we have decent back up for his spot.

Thanks again, Mackie!

 

[saintbill]

Are we ever going to have a good run into pre-season? FMD, this is getting old.

Momentum into the season is absolutely massive. The season rolls around so quickly.

King is nowhere near it, TDK and Flanders both on restricted programs now.

Hard to imagine these 3 are at their best early in the season. Right when we have the hardest draw as well.

 

[Veer Right]

Are we ever going to have a good run into pre-season? FMD, this is getting old.

Momentum into the season is absolutely massive. The season rolls around so quickly.

King is nowhere near it, TDK and Flanders both on restricted programs now.

Hard to imagine these 3 are at their best early in the season. Right when we have the hardest draw as well.

I have put a line through King permanently such is my expectation of him these days. If we get anything from him moving forwards, it's a bonus.

TDK and Flanders will be fine.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

I'm a bit worried about Clark this season. Lots of strapping on his knee and if you start preseason like that, you are already starting behind everyone else. And with this body issues, he needs all the conditioning he can get.

Hunter is his own worst enemy, he just hasn't worked hard enough getting an AFL elite physique or fitness. As a result he will be behind quite a few this year.

 

[Ads734]

Hunter is his own worst enemy, he just hasn't worked hard enough getting an AFL elite physique or fitness. As a result he will be behind quite a few this year.

Dissagree. He has as bad as injury luck as anyone. Not talking just soft tissue insures but , collision In juries.

 

[stfan]

This may sound nuts, but Henry playing peak will be a big reason we go deep into September

I posted similar the other day where I said if we get the Henry who played the Cats at Kardinia Park that it will make a positive difference.

 

[aussierulesrules]

I posted similar the other day where I said if we get the Henry who played the Cats at Kardinia Park that it will make a positive difference.

Watched some of this the other day and it reminded of how dynamic he was early last year in particular.

 

[SainterinSydney]

At least we have decent back up for his spot.

Thanks again, Mackie!

And this is why you dont trade Marshall for some M&Ms and a soddy pop

 

[Tommy Wigs]

I don't think it's how we will start, but if love the following backline by the end of next year:

FB LOC Silvani Wilkie
HB Sinclair Tauru Hastie

Great combo of dash, hard nuts, intercepting ability and X factor.

Also, bit random, but Leigh Mathews just walked passed as I was buying a Pho. Don't know if that's an omen, but I'm going to assume that's the universe telling me we've got a three peat on the horizon

Maybe you bought a faux. Perhaps we win three preseason trophies.

 

[Saints4ever]

I’d rather TDK strain a calf now than in season.

Plenty of time to get him right and up and running for round 1 or should I say opening Round.

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

You haven't listed defence as a strength of the defensive line...

Ok mate

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

Maybe you bought a faux. Perhaps we win three preseason trophies.