Training Saints preseason 2026

[seasonedsainter]

I don’t follow the Eagles much but I’m damn sure I wasn’t pumped to get Ryan for his preseason running capacity lmao I think we must’ve known what we were getting to some extent…!

100% this

 

[seasonedsainter]

On the other hand, Liam Henry was striding out well today.
Chasing Pou on multiple laps.
Pou was motoring.
Henry was right behind him.
Zero evidence of any issues with his knee.

I think you’d be better focusing on what is going well, rather than be fearful about something that may never eventuate.

My reading on Ryan is simple: he’s had the same shock to the system that Cordy and Schoenmaker enjoyed before him.

He will survive, as they did.

Terrific news RE Henry, cheers

 

[ESPN8 The Ocho]

How did Cordy & Shoenmaker work out for the club?

You seemed to have missed the point of the post by a fair margin.
I trust that your kicking for goal skills are better.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

You seemed to have missed the point of the post by a fair margin.
I trust that your kicking for goal skills are better.

If that was meant to be sarcasm its a twisted way of portraying it!

 

[austinnn]

From my experience this type of behaviour and lack of application causes club cultural issues. Particularly when players who don't wholly commit are giving games over others.

Rewarding mediocrity has never been a recipe for success.

This is naive and stupid, expecting every holding every player to the same standard.

We didn't get Flyin' Ryan in for his leadership, his speech making ability or his hard training. We got him in for the box office marking and dead eye goal kicking; if he does that, he holds his place. We went in with our eyes open it should think.

Any player who doesn't like it can is free to use the same amount of hurt factor when they get their place in the team.

 

[austinnn]

Not sure about that. He often has howler turnovers because hes too unfit - think kick off side of foot from a mark. He often walks around because hes not fit enough to tackle

So does Messi just saying

 

[SaintsofSteel]

This is naive and stupid, expecting every holding every player to the same standard.

We didn't get Flyin' Ryan in for his leadership, his speech making ability or his hard training. We got him in for the box office marking and dead eye goal kicking; if he does that, he holds his place. We went in with our eyes open it should think.

Any player who doesn't like it can is free to use the same amount of hurt factor when they get their place in the team.

Thats is probably the most ignorant footballing response I have ever read!

Its now pretty obvious you have never played the game, let alone been involved in coaching or running a club and managed 40-50 young men. Go and get some footballing life experience before you come here and make those ridiculous comments.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

Ryan is as much at the club for his forward nous / x-factor / experience as he is to help and guide Collard who has similar x-factor traits & forward potential

The forwardline should be a lot of fun to watch next season ..... and we have flexibility / depth

 

[austinnn]

Bolded has been the big one.

There were a lot of false dawns from 2012-2025, but this group feels better than past ones, the club is in a better space off field and we can state that we have one of the best players in the comp in our side.

And our older players outside of Macrae are later picks/rookie picks who will set high standards.

Jurgen Klopp turned doubters to believers at Liverpool and Ross Lyon is having the same effect at St Kilda. Both very soulful club leaders, although Ross would laugh at that description!

Belief based on nothing just consolidates doubt in the long term, but belief supported by facts and reality is powerful and transformative.

2023 was huge for that and I think 2026 will be as huge.

All in!

 

[austinnn]

Thats is probably the most ignorant footballing response I have ever read!

Its now pretty obvious you have never played the game, let alone been involved in coaching or running a club and managed 40-50 young men. Go and get some footballing life experience before you come here and make those ridiculous comments.

Correct I've never played the game, run a club or any of the rest of it.

How many men did you say you've managed?

 

[Mavefromdelburn]

Thats is probably the most ignorant footballing response I have ever read!

Its now pretty obvious you have never played the game, let alone been involved in coaching or running a club and managed 40-50 young men. Go and get some footballing life experience before you come here and make those ridiculous comments.

Me reading more of your always uplifting and enjoyable posts:

 

[moirae42]

Just on Ryan...

Not his fault. Look at what he's come out of.

 

[wannabewinner]

I like Liam Ryan

1

Liam Ryan

Age

29

Ht

181cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.3

5star

D

9.9

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.6

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

. Good player.

Just not a fan of the price paid. 2nd rounder in an uncompromised 2026 draft for a 28 year old... It's something that a team in the top 4 can do. The returned 2027 4th rounder draft is worth little given the compromised nature due to Tassie.

 

[MOLTEN GANGLANDS]

Aussie living in Ireland ...it's been my base for the last 25 years

just a phase

 

[tomjoad]

just a phase

I blame my wife.
My wife blames me.
We have a good thing going with neither taking responsibility

 

[Sully111]

This is consistent with past reports re Ryan's fitness, its an ominous warning sign IMO. I wonder if WCE knew something about Liam's off field application we didn't?

Ominous?

 

[gringo2011]

Definitely underrrated.
Had a very good season.

Every year he seems to keep his form going bit longer. This year he was the only small forward apart from Jamie Elliott to kick over 45 goals for the season. Zac Bailey got listed as A grade and he kicked 4 less goals while playing 4 more games. He's not a like for like I know but Jamie Elliot is more of a tiny key forward than a goal sneak too.

Looking at the Coleman list we didn't have many forwards who scored heavily. Higgins-46.17, Sharman-34.22, Owens 25.16, Hall 23.16, Wood 22.21, Nas 17.6, Marshall 10.13.

Then Collard 8, Butler 7, Hill 6, Windhager 4, Phillipou 4, Caminiti 4, Garcia 4, Byrnes 3, Travaglia 2, Henry 2, Cordy 1, Clark 1, Tauru 1.

Next season will be interesting with King, TDK/Marshall combo, Ryan, Flanders etc. Ryan had similar goals to Hall this year and he was playing a bit more time away from goals. King's best year was something like 52 goals from 22 games, at his best Butler is a 30 goal small forward, Owens should improve, Sharman gets the third or fourth best defender, Hammer should improve, Marshall more time forward. Hopefully a lot more potency next year.

 

[gringo2011]

Ryan is as much at the club for his forward nous / x-factor / experience as he is to help and guide Collard who has similar x-factor traits & forward potential

The forwardline should be a lot of fun to watch next season ..... and we have flexibility / depth

His best trait is turning horrible entries into shots on goal. He's not waiting for blue chip delivery, he scraps it or marks some ugly scrubbed kick against the flow.

 

[gringo2011]

I like Liam Ryan. Good player.

Just not a fan of the price paid. 2nd rounder in an uncompromised 2026 draft for a 28 year old... It's something that a team in the top 4 can do. The returned 2027 4th rounder draft is worth little given the compromised nature due to Tassie.

We are getting to the point in the rebuild where you stop bulking and start cutting. We don't need to bring in masses of kids, we need development into the good ones we have. Next year we'll have a VFL side stacked with highly rated kids.

Topping up with players that make us more competitive also helps sign guys like Wilson and Nas who are seeing results for sacrifice and a future here. It attracts FA players wanting in and the side being more competitive will get fans in.

I think this is a worthwhile gamble. No point in being like the Hawks who courted and then stumbled when the paper work came out.

 

[beside the seaside]

This is consistent with past reports re Ryan's fitness, its an ominous warning sign IMO. I wonder if WCE knew something about Liam's off field application we didn't?

Jeez mate maybe let him play a game before going after him. The bloke is an All Australian and had a massive hand in winning them the flag in 2018, took that huge mark on the wing that opened the game up for the winning goal. Came through a really tough path to make it via WAFL reserves and then WAFL for Subi as an over ager.

He's on I'm guessing a three year deal so his journey at our club is only just beginning.

Not every player is a freak trainer. Think of a guy like Stuart Dew who also won his club a flag.

The club has clearly picked him up with a vision for what he can do both on and off the field.

 

[saintmike65]

100% this

He's a low possession, high impact operator!
Can sit on guys heads & kick goals from half chances.

 

[saintmike65]

If you want a smokey debutant, keep an eye on young Eammon Armstrong.
His progress in such a short period of time is amazing, seemingly improving every training session.
Rumor has it Cody McDonald is a tremendous prospect but won't be here until July.
Don't mind the look of Oscar Ainsworth either, an SSP prospect.

 

[saintscott]

If you want a smokey debutant, keep an eye on young Eammon Armstrong.
His progress in such a short period of time is amazing, seemingly improving every training session.
Rumor has it Cody McDonald is a tremendous prospect but won't be hear until July.
Don't mind the look of Oscar Ainsworth either, an SSP prospect.

Keen to hear more on ainsworth, vested interest!

 

[Desperate saint]

Definitely underrrated.
Had a very good season.

absolutely A grade

 

[Veer Right]

He's a low possession, high impact operator!
Can sit on guys heads & kick goals from half chances.

No.