Training Saints preseason 2026

[Mavefromdelburn]

At the same time we have his son and Tom’s brother a million a year. Something with that deal seems iffy. Sorry call me a conspiracist. I just do

Deary me

 

[magd2992]

1. Nas
2. Naz
3. NWM

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Personally, I just think he's drastically overrated. I don't think he's that good of a player.
It's my opinion.
I just don't get the hype.
If the very few nay sayers have to put up with the hundreds believing the sun shines out of Max Kings hole, and that he can do no wrong. Then the hordes can deal with the three or four of us that don't share that view.
When he starts kicking the 70-80 goals a season much touted on here, I'm sure we doubters will come around.
That's it.

I think King's two big red flags before we drafted him were the fact that he just had a catastrophic knee injury and that his kicking for goal was pretty poor. His size, marking and athleticism were all clear weapons. We've seen those weapons in action when he has been fit and firing at AFL level.

Well we now have a number of serious injuries that have piled up over the years and his goal kicking has proven to be unreliable when he does get on the park. I also think we may have mismanaged him by trying to make him into a power forward from day one, when we could have had him playing higher up the ground as a CHF, since his field kicking is surprisingly good compared to his goal kicking. This role could have been a bit easier on the body compared to wrestling key defenders and crashing packs from day 1.

At this point, the remainder of his career could go in a few different directions. He might barely get on the park (if at all) due to the his body breaking down. He might be able to play 10-15 games per year but look a shadow of his former self due to accumulative injuries (ala late career Kosi). Or maybe he can have a Hogan/Daniher/Curnow style resurrection and string a few really strong seasons together with a stronger, more mature body.

We all hope that the outcome is the latter but you can't blame anyone for being frustrated when we've signed a player on such a long contract while the first two potential outcomes are very much on the cards.

 

[Joffaboy]

I dont rate King that highly, but think it is unreasonable to be making up bullshit about him being miles off when anyone at training can see his progress week by week.
Say you dont rate him, say in your view he isn't much good, fair enough, but don't make up bullshit, like that bloke the other day

 

[Saints4ever]

Reading these training reports I have us finishing in the 8 easily and I couldn’t be more excited.

Thought I’d give myself a reality check and do a sneaky ladder predictor.

I had us finishing 10th just behind 8 and 9 on percentage.

Obviously nobody can tip every game and it’s a complete waste of time but it was a little reality check when I seen us sitting 10th.

Thankfully we have wildcard weekend now .

 

[Ads734]

once again watching back some of the later part games. Cooper Sharman is one seriously skilled forward. His skills on both feet and in the air are seriously up there imo.

 

[Saints4ever]

After the ladder predictor and no doubt I’ll be way off.

1-Brisbane
2-Hawthorn
3-Adelaide
4-Fremantle
5-Gold Coast
6-Geelong
7-Sydney
8-GWS
9-Port Adelaide
10-St Kilda
11-Western Bulldogs
12-Collingwood
13-Carlton
14-North Melbourne
15-Essendon
16-Melbourne
17-Richmond
18-West Coast Eagles

I don’t rate Port Adelaide at all no idea how I tipped them to 9th.

Sydney was higher than I expected.

Didn’t think I would have the dogs and pies that low.

I thought I would’ve had the Suns in the top 4 and I thought I’d rate the hawks and crows lower.

Interesting exercise.

 

[SG34]

That's your genius Dr. Spaceman.
I am already dead, actually.
A breathing corpse.
So the Hill is part of the mythology.
Maybe some Saints fans can understand.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

1. Nas
2. Naz
3. NWM

No room for Wanga?

 

[Sarcoidevo]

I dont rate King that highly, but think it is unreasonable to be making up bullshit about him being miles off when anyone at training can see his progress week by week.
Say you dont rate him, say in your view he isn't much good, fair enough, but don't make up bullshit, like that bloke the other day

I would rate King more highly if he got rid of the T-Rex dinosaur arms

 

[stavro#4]

where did he attack him ?

Just a different opinion is how it reads

I think I made my point pretty clear that it was a generalisation about the way people talk about King on here.

No need to attack the guy just because you don’t rate him and evidently people have on here - which again is just bloody weird.

 

[Minga]

Why are people commenting on this matter, it has absolutely NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with St Kilda FC, leave his mother, father, brothers alone, they'll be hurting enough without Saints supporters joining the media in the pile-on, disgusting as far as I'm concerned

I don’t agree with this sentiment, absolutely has a lot to do with football culture in general wherein there is a lot of violence perpetrated towards women.

As supporters of the club, nuffies like ourselves especially, we spend a lot of time on forums like this talking about SOS ad nauseam. When an important figure relevant to our support continue to support a rapist after conviction, that is certainly worth commenting. Perhaps this is the wrong thread for it yes, but it’s important nonetheless.

 

[saintmike65]

And isn’t that great?
Rewind even 2 years - wasn’t nearly as difficult a decision.

I still can’t even decide who to change my avatar to let alone pick 3 players.

NAS has to be standout as #1 not only because of the player he is, but because of the impact he has had on the entire club by staying. This pre-season draft/trade period would not have been half as successful without that. More than anything he’s really given us hope and helped make the club relevant again. ( Hope he doesn’t bankrupt us though!)

I do love Hally. Been a sensational pick up. Stocker has been inspirational with what he’s been through, and I really respect his choice to just take a year by year contract. And Wood - well, nothing I need to add.

As I’ve said before, it’s like trying to pick your favourite child.
I can’t.

Agree it's a difficult question i raise but it does get you thinking!

 

[saintmike65]

I’ve got a really good feeling Boxshall is going to become a fan favourite

Boxy and Banfield are both tremendous prospects, one picked at 45 and the other 41...A couple of Dalrymple diamonds in the rough..

 

[The Boar]

I want to talk about Travaglia.

He needs to be a lock for Back Flank, learning from Sincs and rotating through the midfield with NAS/Sincs- what better role models for the young man to find his feet at AFL and build confidence.

Second to Trav is Tauru- these two were a dominant backline combination for Victoria in the U18s. He needs to have first crack at a backline position to learn from Wilkie- when to defend, when to attack.

Pump some games into these two lads. T&T!

 

[saintmike65]

I want to talk about Travaglia.

He needs to be a lock for Back Flank, learning from Sincs and rotating through the midfield with NAS/Sincs- what better role models for the young man to find his feet at AFL and build confidence.

Second to Trav is Tauru- these two were a dominant backline combination for Victoria in the U18s. He needs to have first crack at a backline position to learn from Wilkie- when to defend, when to attack.

Pump some games into these two lads. T&T!

Watching training consistently this preseason I'd have Jack Carroll in that back flank spot.
Won't hurt Tobie to develop his game at VFL level

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

Hmmm I don't agree tbh. I think the million dollars a year may have something to do with it.

Jack is not on a million dollars a year FFS.

Why make stuff like that up?

 

[Ads734]

Jack is not on a million dollars a year FFS.

Why make stuff like that up?

Okay 850 then. I wouldn’t pay him more than 450. Save the money for Sharman, Pou, Wilson, Baily or any other free agent.

 

[Grav]

Personally, I just think he's drastically overrated. I don't think he's that good of a player.
It's my opinion.
I just don't get the hype.
If the very few nay sayers have to put up with the hundreds believing the sun shines out of Max Kings hole, and that he can do no wrong. Then the hordes can deal with the three or four of us that don't share that view.
When he starts kicking the 70-80 goals a season much touted on here, I'm sure we doubters will come around.
That's it.

So because you don’t think he is as good as mentioned by others, you think it’s fair to attack the guys body/work ethic/contract etc?

Don’t see an attack at all and I tend to agree with tomjoad as at this stage of his career his conversion rate is only around the 50% mark, hopefully he has not only built a bigger stronger body but has improved his approach to goal….. by getting rid of that ridiculous ball spinning as he walks in for set shots.

Footnote, I seriously hope he has me eating humble pie by next season’s end.

 

[saintbill]

After the ladder predictor and no doubt I’ll be way off.

1-Brisbane
2-Hawthorn
3-Adelaide
4-Fremantle
5-Gold Coast
6-Geelong
7-Sydney
8-GWS
9-Port Adelaide
10-St Kilda
11-Western Bulldogs
12-Collingwood
13-Carlton
14-North Melbourne
15-Essendon
16-Melbourne
17-Richmond
18-West Coast Eagles

I don’t rate Port Adelaide at all no idea how I tipped them to 9th.

Sydney was higher than I expected.

Didn’t think I would have the dogs and pies that low.

I thought I would’ve had the Suns in the top 4 and I thought I’d rate the hawks and crows lower.

Interesting exercise.

Think it is possible we improve significantly but still only finish 9 or 10. There are just a lot of good teams.

The bottom 6 or 7 look miles off (I would have Port in that bracket).

Have to hope 2-3 of the top 11 or so sides have off years. Could see Pies, GWS sliding down. Doubt Crows are as good this year, but will still play finals.

Swans are not an automatic finals squad for me either.

A lot will come down to injuries and who wins the close games.

 

[austinnn]

Okay 850 then. I wouldn’t pay him more than 450. Save the money for Sharman, Pou, Wilson, Baily or any other free agent.

He would not have come for that. We'd be all in on Leek Aleer and JSOS would most probably be a Bulldog.

 

[Joffaboy]

Boxy and Banfield are both tremendous prospects, one picked at 45 and the other 41...A couple of Dalrymple diamonds in the rough..

Went over to WCE board and respectively asked what they thought his weaknesses were.
They were more of the mind that while he is a good physical speciman, he was a bit vanilla and lacks a bit of pace. They thought the list needs were better suited to the NGA they matched at pick 39.

So no glaring weakness a bit one paced and they thought he got sloppy under pressure. Fair enough.
Personally think they will regret their decision, I dont think he is one paced or vanilla, however hard to see at preseason.
Get some development into him and he coyld be an absolute steal in my opinion.

 

[MrFoster]

So because you don’t think he is as good as mentioned by others, you think it’s fair to attack the guys body/work ethic/contract etc?

That’s what the point of my post was. It’s an incredibly weird thing be it your don’t rate him or as others have said they believed he was the anointed one.

Like we had posts claiming he couldn’t even lift a weight and then the club releases a few images of him and he looks like he has arms and legs as thick as tree branches.

If we were during the season and he wasn’t performing. Fair game. But that’s not what is occurring.

Each to their own I guess. Some people will always complain. I had more issues with Billings getting paid top dollar for little impact 95% of the games he played.

Went over to WCE board and respectively asked what they thought his weaknesses were.
They were more of the mind that while he is a good physical speciman, he was a bit vanilla and lacks a bit of pace. They thought the list needs were better suited to the NGA they matched at pick 39.

So no glaring weakness a bit one paced and they thought he got sloppy under pressure. Fair enough.
Personally think they will regret their decision, I dont think he is one paced or vanilla, however hard to see at preseason.
Get some development into him and he coyld be an absolute steal in my opinion.

To me Banfield is a hybrid mid, can play inside, outside. I’m not sure he is a good wing, as speed and precise kicking is probably not his strength.

 

[akaifu]

Went over to WCE board and respectively asked what they thought his weaknesses were.
They were more of the mind that while he is a good physical speciman, he was a bit vanilla and lacks a bit of pace. They thought the list needs were better suited to the NGA they matched at pick 39.

So no glaring weakness a bit one paced and they thought he got sloppy under pressure. Fair enough.
Personally think they will regret their decision, I dont think he is one paced or vanilla, however hard to see at preseason.
Get some development into him and he coyld be an absolute steal in my opinion.

I agree with them. I think Banfield can be a really good winger but I think his ceiling is limited going off his U18s performances - I don't see much chance of him becoming an A-grade inside mid given his average foot skills and lack of pace

Pick 41 is probably fair value for him compared to the rest of the draft crop. We get a really good role player for the future. Others taken above him may not be as ready-made but they have more A-grade game-breaking potential attributes

 

[saintmike65]

Went over to WCE board and respectively asked what they thought his weaknesses were.
They were more of the mind that while he is a good physical speciman, he was a bit vanilla and lacks a bit of pace. They thought the list needs were better suited to the NGA they matched at pick 39.

So no glaring weakness a bit one paced and they thought he got sloppy under pressure. Fair enough.
Personally think they will regret their decision, I dont think he is one paced or vanilla, however hard to see at preseason.
Get some development into him and he coyld be an absolute steal in my opinion.

He was very influential in match sim yesterday...He's not quick but definitely covers the ground well, is courageous, great one grab mark and runs all day!