Training Saints preseason 2026

[Ads734]

I went to quite a few VFL matches last year, and my biggest knock on O'Connell was his running patterns, and that was why he was put behind the ball as a lockdown to develop. When he moved into the midfield he wasn't necessarily playing a LOCkdown role, but was playing as that bigger bodied mid, which we didn't have any of in the magoos.

He is a born leader with his hard edge and is one of the most vocal on the field, so having those guys around the ball will set a standard of what is expected from the rest of the team. I can definitely see him playing midfield though, as he was showing really good signs towards the end of the season for the Zebs.

completely agree he hasa real tough edge but isn't slow as a mid. Still developing his breakaway movement form the contest but he is actually quite careful with his disposal both by hand and foot. I am a massive shout for LOC.

 

[sammm]

Kobe McDonald set to train with Mayo to build his strength & conditioning ahead of joining us mid-2026

Who ot what is Mayo? Is Kobe our latest Irish recruit?

 

[sammm]

Even better if they give us discount flights with our memberships.

Get me a discount flight, and ill go. Im already travelling. Over 12 month period starting July 2025 I will be away from Melbourne around 9 months. Three trips interstate and 2 overseas.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Who ot what is Mayo? Is Kobe our latest Irish recruit?

Apparently RTB had only one thing to ask them

 

[Broski]

He is like a blonde Pou. You can see he is confident and will leave no stone unturned. As I said previously, Lenny loves him.

They both have got that good ‘tism’ that you can win a flag around

 

[akaifu]

He is like a blonde Pou. You can see he is confident and will leave no stone unturned. As I said previously, Lenny loves him.

I'm quite a young supporter and this feels like the first time I can confidently say that every year I am genuinely expecting a kid to take the next step - unlike the late 2010s where it was just blind hope

The last few years have been that Nas/Windy/Owens group. I was loving Hall's VFL performances in 2024 but his breakout this year still came as a massive surprise

For the next 1-2 years, I am confident we will see at least one or two breakouts from this Pou/Wilson/Garcia/Collard/Hastie/LOC group

Beyond that, its out of 'blonde Pou'/Boxshall/Tauru/Barrat/Dodson/Banfield/Fincher etc.

Then there's the continual development of some of the 'older young' blokes such as King, Sharman, Flanders, Henry, Owens, Windy

Truly exciting...until they all flop and I look like an idiot

 

[DGontheQT]

Who ot what is Mayo? Is Kobe our latest Irish recruit?

Mayo is an Irish County. The kid will be an interesting watch when he comes , his coach said something along the lines of “he’s the best thing I’ve seen in a jersey in a while”.

 

[Ads734]

I'm quite a young supporter and this feels like the first time I can confidently say that every year I am genuinely expecting a kid to take the next step - unlike the late 2010s where it was just blind hope

The last few years have been that Nas/Windy/Owens group. I was loving Hall's VFL performances in 2024 but his breakout this year still came as a massive surprise

For the next 1-2 years, I am confident we will see at least one or two breakouts from this Pou/Wilson/Garcia/Collard/Hastie/LOC group

Beyond that, its out of 'blonde Pou'/Boxshall/Tauru/Barrat/Dodson/Banfield/Fincher etc.

Then there's the continual development of some of the 'older young' blokes such as King, Sharman, Flanders, Henry, Owens, Windy

Truly exciting...until they all flop and I look like an idiot

Yea I think this year in particular any of the feeling.

This season improvmenets
and long term potential

Boxman C+ > B+ A grade
Garcia C+>B+ A grade
Pou C+ >A A+ grade
Wilson B>A A+ grade
Trav D >B A grade
Tauru B+>A A+ grade
Hall A->A A grade
Owens B+>A A grade
Windhager B+ > A A grade
Fanders B+ >A

That i still not including guys like
King
Henry
Sharman

 

[stfan]

completely agree he hasa real tough edge but isn't slow as a mid. Still developing his breakaway movement form the contest but he is actually quite careful with his disposal both by hand and foot. I am a massive shout for LOC.

As an Irish lad, learning to read the play and knowing what to do is always the hardest facet of the game to master
And it takes a while....if at all.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Not getting it? with Tex Wanganeen.
Played 8 games with Port Melbourne f.c
Averaged 12.4 posessions a game without too many goals.
Had foot problems then needed both shoulders operated on.
If its sentimentality towards Nas
I'd rather they'd do it with Jackson Voss & his father Brett.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Not getting it? with Tex Wanganeen.
Played 8 games with Port Melbourne f.c
Averaged 12.4 posessions a game without too many goals.
Had foot problems then needed both shoulders operated on.
If its sentimentality towards Nas
I'd rather they'd do it with Jackson Voss & his father Brett.

I think the club is more interested in keeping Nas happy vs Brett Voss.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

I think the club is more interested in keeping Nas happy vs Brett Voss.

Jackson Voss would keep Nas happy by kicking 70m bombs to him

 

[tomjoad]

Mayo is an Irish County. The kid will be an interesting watch when he comes , his coach said something along the lines of “he’s the best thing I’ve seen in a jersey in a while”.

His dad was one of the best GAA players over the last while. Tough and skillful.
Was also a bit of a prick too...typical Irish mouthy bollocks If i'm not mistaken, he was the one the Aussie boys were beating up out of the tunnel back in a noughties "composite rules" game. and then targeted on field throughout the game. He took many a lump, but it was all in good fun.
If the son has that level of scrap and dog in him, we've got a good one.

 

[tomjoad]

As an Irish lad, learning to read the play and knowing whst to do is always the hardest facet of the game to master
And it takes a while.

Didn't he have a few years in Perth before heading back to Ireland. He had definitely played AFL before as a kid.
I think he was in Australia until he was 11 or 12. Could be wrong though...

 

[seasonedsainter]

Who ot what is Mayo? Is Kobe our latest Irish recruit?

Mayo is basically a poor man’s Galway.

 

[hayes]

I think the club is more interested in keeping Nas happy vs Brett Voss.

If two million a year doesn’t make him happy nothing will.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

 

[Jesuswasacarpenter]

I have heard he has been crucified for not being quick enough.

And the old stigmata injuries don't hurt as much as you would imagine, especially when the bone is missed.

 

[stfan]

Just on Tex, I would imagine that the Club is giving him a chance to impress and show thart he is worth a AFL or VFL list spot with us.

Even a VFL slot would allow him to work hard in 2026 to have a chance of a club giving him a second AFL crack.

That we have at least one other SSP prospect already confirms that Tex is not guranteed an AFL list spot.

 

[Sully111]

Yea I think this year in particular any of the feeling.

This season improvmenets
and long term potential

Boxman C+ > B+ A grade
Garcia C+>B+ A grade
Pou C+ >A A+ grade
Wilson B>A A+ grade
Trav D >B A grade
Tauru B+>A A+ grade
Hall A->A A grade
Owens B+>A A grade
Windhager B+ > A A grade
Fanders B+ >A

That i still not including guys like
King
Henry
Sharman

I think you're underrating Garcia's season this year.

 

[Ads734]

I think you're underrating Garcia's season this year.

Fair play,

I think it is more , the in and out. The interesting re Garcia is he has some amazing halves and then goes quiet. I can;t remeber which game it was may have been richmond where he was everywhere early days. I have full faith in his midfield craft and ability to accumlate

 

[stavro#4]

Not that it means anything. But interesting to see how something else compares lists.

Draft guru has their player and list ratings up for 2026.

• Top 4 for for the amount of B graders on the list
• Bottom half of the league for A Graders
• 7th most amount of C Graders
• Least amount of D grade rated players in the league.

10th for average age 24.5, which is the same as Freo
8th for average Games 76.2
11th for average goals 41.7
12th for average coaches votes 48.3
14th for average brownlow votes 8.9

AFL Club Lists for 2026 - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

 

[paddygunner]

His dad was one of the best GAA players over the last while. Tough and skillful.
Was also a bit of a prick too...typical Irish mouthy bollocks If i'm not mistaken, he was the one the Aussie boys were beating up out of the tunnel back in a noughties "composite rules" game. and then targeted on field throughout the game. He took many a lump, but it was all in good fun.
If the son has that level of scrap and dog in him, we've got a good one.

I think that’s the image people had because of Ciaran’s looks (blonde highlights etc) however he is one of the most unassuming people you will meet. Never was mouthy on the pitch and was out digging trenches at 7am on a Monday morning after playing in Croke Park the day before. Heard Ciaran and some family members will move over with Kobe which will hopefully help him settle in.

 

[tomjoad]

I think that’s the image people had because of Ciaran’s looks (blonde highlights etc) however he is one of the most unassuming people you will meet. Never was mouthy on the pitch and was out digging trenches at 7am on a Monday morning after playing in Croke Park the day before. Heard Ciaran and some family members will move over with Kobe which will hopefully help him settle in.

I'm sure you're right, but I live in Meath...and the some of the old guard tell a rather different story about Ciaran (probably because Donegal was destroying them during those years...jeslousy can make fools of us all )
I remember him playing and he was very good.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

I'm sure you're right, but I live in Meath...and the some of the old guard tell a rather different story about Ciaran (probably because Donegal was destroying them during those years...jeslousy can make fools of us all )
I remember him playing and he was very good.

Are you an Aussie living in Ireland or an Irish living in Ireland