Training Saints preseason 2026

[Remboy]

Nobody start a 2026 Injury thread please!

Maybe we should start one for the other clubs.

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

It’s uncanny

And he still doesn't get no respect

 

[Windtagger]

Q: is there room for both Hugo and Pou in our midfield/bench?

Assuming NAS, McRae,Flanders,Windy are all walk ups. How many additional rotations do we usually have in there for a game?

 

[Pbft]

Yep, Friday was 35, feels like 48

Not sure thats 100% accurate.

Anyways today we have a beautiful 33 degrees with only 70% humidity (feels like 38 apparently but not to me).

 

[BrutThough]

Q: is there room for both Hugo and Pou in our midfield/bench?

Assuming NAS, McRae,Flanders,Windy are all walk ups. How many additional rotations do we usually have in there for a game?

There is but then there isnt room for Boxhall or Henry if he's remain fit. It's tight for spots.

But if there is only room for one, a fit Phillipou is the choice and I dont think it's close.

 

[tony74]

Any training reports from today ?

We’re up north all week

 

[mighty_sainters]

We’re up north all week

You up there as well Tony?

 

[Train12]

We’re up north all week

Did King make the journey up there ?

 

[saintmike65]

Any training reports from today ?

Players and coaches are in queensland this week..back at RSEA next week

 

[FraserFridays]

We’re up north all week

We’re up north all week

So let's hope we can rely on any QLD Sainters to help us out with some reports this week.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Q: is there room for both Hugo and Pou in our midfield/bench?

Assuming NAS, McRae,Flanders,Windy are all walk ups. How many additional rotations do we usually have in there for a game?

I'd think so. They will rotate through other positions as well. Nas and Ned will spend some time at half back. Windy will play quite a bit of wing and might be needed as a half back rotation as well. Macrae may find himself as that 60-65% TOG onballer as I don't think he can really play anywhere else, but he's also our best clearance mid.

Hugo should mainly be mid but we could also use him as a tagger on the wing or pressure forward.

Pou will spend time forward and I'd even like to see him trialed in the prime Goddard mid/half back role. I could see him intercepting well and his boot would be a weapon rebounding from defensive 50.

It will be really interesting to see if we try to replace Nas with a full timer in defence or if his role will just be covered by an array of players rotating through there (plus a heavier reliance on Sinclair).

I'm open to the idea of Carroll getting first crack since he seems to have been impressing at training, but Bonner looked like a superstar until the real games started as well. We might be better off just rotating others through that position (and I'm not convinced Clark is ever going to put it all together).

 

[Fehring]

Windhager looks like the workhorse in a lot of our highlight videos. Plenty of the initial touches are him getting his hands dirty to feed Nas and others. Hugo looks a natural extractor and if Macrae can keep himself fit for the full season he was looking AA quality early last year. It really feels like good players are going to pushing to get a run now. Even Boxshall would be a best 22 player few years back. Now he's going to have to absolutely perform to jump past others.

Windy was the unsung hero of the passage of play to Naz for the screamer against the Dees. A brilliant clearance to Wood.

 

[SainterinSydney]

It’s uncanny

I tells ya, RTB, I get no respect!

 

[akaifu]

Q: is there room for both Hugo and Pou in our midfield/bench?

Assuming NAS, McRae,Flanders,Windy are all walk ups. How many additional rotations do we usually have in there for a game?

I think Pou is a lock for our 23 - offers a unique look in our front half with his size and skill and is probably top 3 for ceiling out of all our young players

I haven't had Hugo in my 23 all pre-season but I think he's next man in when one of our mids cops an injury

 

[Nutsngum]

We have quite a number of under 22yos playing, they are likely to have inconsistent patches throughout the year and form will play a factor on if people are getting games or not.

 

[bergholt]

Just on having a dislocated knee cap.

I was playing hockey for my school's secondary school and my opponent was the then Captain of Vic U18 team.

I was no more than a metre away when he let rip with a full blooded swipe, which I tried to dodge but as I turned it just hit me direct on my kneecap pushing it sideways and dislocating it. Looking down it was bulging out substantially.

It hurt like buggery. I went off and the coach just looked at it before slapping it firmly without any warning with his palm which also hurt like buggery. Fortunately it just popped back into place, and I don't think I had any side effects.

Glory year for me as we went on to win the State GF 11-2 with my scoring two goals from fullback.

I did mine doing martial arts, landed funny on my leg and it popped out. Instructor came over and straightened my leg and it popped straight back in. Blew up that night though and I couldn't walk for a few days.

 

[stfan]

I did mine doing martial arts, landed funny on my leg and it popped out. Instructor came over and straightened my leg and it popped straight back in. Blew up that night though and I couldn't walk for a few days.

Yes I meant long-term side effects. It was swollen and sore for a few days.

 

[SG34]

Windy was the unsung hero of the passage of play to Naz for the screamer against the Dees. A brilliant clearance to Wood.

Indeed he was. From the backline, through the wing, his bursts were brilliant and connected up two chains if I remember. At that point I thought, woah, Windy, you are better than I was giving you credit for. I had started to settle on the idea that he would be a solid B grader before that.

 

[Phar Ace]

Not sure thats 100% accurate.

Anyways today we have a beautiful 33 degrees with only 70% humidity (feels like 38 apparently but not to me).

That's what the app on the phone said, and I was talking about Cairns if you thread it back - I was shocked, but not shocked, it felt bloody hot in the early arvo working up there.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Pretty keen to see how Macrae goes in a Nas led midfield. It's easy to forget how great he was early last year before teams started putting work into him/injury impacted him.

With Nas copping all the attention in that midfield, Macrae should be able to really get to work and have a big season.

 

[Ads734]

Garcia in training and I’m not just basing this on his videos but he is so focused on improving. I’ve noticed his movement and driving his legs from stoppage has really improved this pre season. In addition his hands towards the end of last season were as good as anyone imo.

We know he can have good halves and quarters now he needs to put it all together.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Garcia vs Phillipou is an interesting one. Phillipou most likely has a higher ceiling, but I also think he's less likely to put it together. I'd be very surprised if Garcia doesn't end up a very good AFL midfielder.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Dont know who is 'grasping' regarding LOC and Carroll.
Multiple track watchers have reported their progress, where they have played in match sim drills and their form.
There are possibly two spots, Websters in the backline and NAZ's off a half back.
From what has been reported it would be no surprise if one or both are selected. If you dont want to believe multiple reports, thats up to you.
If you possibly can and I know it is not possible for many, but get down to training and have a look, if you can't fair enough.
I think though it is a bit disrespectful to say multiple reports from multiple people are 'grasping' like they are all making it up.
A few caveats though. 1)It is only preseason ( but that is all we have to go on) form. Matches are very different.
2) I wouldn't trust my reports either.
3) NAZ may stay at hb, Stocker or Trav may be first choice, JSOS may recover in time to take Jimmy's spot etc.

Sincs is running through the mids at the moment not off half back

Wow, Sincs with the mids.
Interesting!!!
As you say from yours & others track watching, Carroll & Loc seem to be training well in the backline,
but for me, that doesn't always translate to them owning that position, come the season proper.
But it seems that the coaches, may want to replace both Nas & Sincs on the hbf's.
That's a huge move.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

So who plays on the small forwards that are very quick?

Not Stocker

 

[Mavefromdelburn]

Not Stocker

Is glacial, Stocker.

Do many on here have Dard Ball Get mate Ronnie in their regular 23? Maybe not 'best' but who you actually think will be selected each week?