Training Saints preseason 2026

[t_94]

Except the AFL says it is finals so they are finals.

Imagine paying heed to what Andrew Dillon says lmao.

 

[sauce_head]

Probably the best interview he’s ever done.

Barrett was scrambling many times.

Just watched it. It was brilliant. Can’t help but love that man!

 

[stavro#4]

Yeah that little extra and Max. WTF is the club doing? They put two weeks in the injury list but they "expect him back in round 4". That's another 6 weeks from today.

There is a difference between being injured and not playing.

I’d imagine that gap is a load increase to show he pulls up with contact.

 

[BrutThough]

Yeah that little extra and Max. WTF is the club doing? They put two weeks in the injury list but they "expect him back in round 4". That's another 6 weeks from today.

It's a 2 week calf injury but he wasn't game ready when it happened so the rest of the time will be referring building that up.

 

[sauce_head]

Yeah that little extra and Max. WTF is the club doing? They put two weeks in the injury list but they "expect him back in round 4". That's another 6 weeks from today.

I think they meant two weeks on the end so it not round 0 anymore, but round 4, which is still obviously more than two weeks.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Which is why I went with game plan.

A graders emerge from a structure in which they are clear about their role and what’s required.

Success is the product of everyone playing their part.

I think we have lost that throughout 2024 and 2025. Where in 2023 it was a night and day compared to the decade before that.

The birth of the “role player” in 09/10 also lends backs the important of gameplan and structure under the boss.

Having the gameplan and structure down pat, and being a well oiled machine, is why we were able to rest half the team and still win in that last H&A game against Hawks in 2009.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Yeah hopefully Barrat can emerge. I think he was touted as a bit of a project player but he really hasnt shown much yet. Would be a shame if he joins that list as he was a fairly high pick.

Weren't Barrat and Trav touted as the two most readymade of that draft haul? Barrat a versatile man child and Trav was billed as a plug and play half back.

 

[gringo2011]

We are also still reliant on natural progression (albeit to a lesser degree).

Were all banking on Hall, Windy, Pou pushing on for us to REALLY challenge the top 4.

Gameplan, development/progression and injury free.

The pool of guys with growth potential is massive now. TDK, JSOS, Flanders, King, Owens, Windhager, Phillipou, Wilson, Higgins, Sharman, Hall, Garcia, Hammer etc could all easily step up to an A grade level. Only a handful will, but we used to have about 4 at any one time under Richo.

Then guys like Boxshall, Keeler, Tauru, Travaglia, Dodson, Carroll who could be anything.

And a pile of already good players who have levels to go up or get back to. Even Marshall, Clark, Stocker, Butler, Wood types could move up.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

I thought Joey made some great points on the Saints TV preview. We need to see the emergence of some more A graders.

I was thinking about the team and I feel the most obvious one that could emerge is TDK. I'd really like to see some signs of him dominating, doesn't have to be a huge game tonight but just some signs.

Would love to see Pou show something too.

Agree with Joey that our success will all come down to who can graduate from serviceable to AA squad quality.

Pou is the one with the real potential to move the needle IMO. He has the talent, drive and athletic traits. Just needs to get his body right. Could be a 25 disposal per game, 30 goal per year midfielder.

I'm not sure what Wilson's ceiling is. Obviously if he can start playing like he did in the final game of last season then we've got an absolute superstar on our hands but I have no idea what his baseline will be.

I think Hall can go up another notch. If he surpasses his 2025 then he'll be an absolute gun but that's not a given.

If Windy and Owens can go up a notch that will help but I don't think we'll ever see them in an AA squad. I see Garcia and Boxshall being long-term players as well but not at that elite level.

TDK, Flanders and Silvagni could all be AA contenders if they play their best footy consistently and stay fit. Maybe that's our path...a couple of the kids and a couple of the recruits have outstanding years to join Nas, Wilkie and Sinclair with the elite players of the competition and that could get us into the top six

 

[gringo2011]

Yeah that little extra and Max. WTF is the club doing? They put two weeks in the injury list but they "expect him back in round 4". That's another 6 weeks from today.

The injury is 2 weeks but he missed so much footy he needs a training block and then regain touch etc. Round 4 is actually a pretty quick turnaround. I'd take that any day of the week. Doubt that it will be before round 6 personally.

 

[Letarrowsfly]

Imagine if we took Sinn or Hobbs at #11? If we win a flag with this group we should all thank the great man and toast to Toce. It all comes back to that moment for me.

Unfortunately, Chris Toce passed away last year. Was a good dude

 

[Mat Mann]

Yeah that little extra and Max. WTF is the club doing? They put two weeks in the injury list but they "expect him back in round 4". That's another 6 weeks from today.

go listen to the actual interview

Ross Lyon on Saints' cash splash, Fagan's dig, King's future

Watch the full in-depth interview between St Kilda coach Ross Lyon and AFL.com.au’s Damian Barrett as the Saints gear up for 2026 after a massive off-season

www.afl.com.au

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Pretty warm and muggy here in South East Queensland today, the boys might find it a bit draining tonight. Looking forward to checking out the new look team and fingers crossed for no injuries.

 

[botts]

That Ross interview was unbelievable. Best I’ve heard in a long time. Had Damo look like a first year journo. Interesting snippet of a club potentially taking legal action. If anyone is gonna have a crack at that it’s basset

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Pretty warm and muggy here in South East Queensland today, the boys might find it a bit draining tonight. Looking forward to checking out the new look team and fingers crossed for no injuries.

I'm not too worried about overall score. The nepo babies in their own swamp should outscore us. I just want to see signs - some slick passages of play, new recruits making a difference, young players showing development. And most importantly, no injuries.

 

[SainterinSydney]

That Ross interview was unbelievable. Best I’ve heard in a long time. Had Damo look like a first year journo. Interesting snippet of a club potentially taking legal action. If anyone is gonna have a crack at that it’s basset

That is what jumped out to me. I imagine there are a few clubs including St Kilda that have threatened to do it.

 

[botts]

That is what jumped out to me. I imagine there are a few clubs including St Kilda that have threatened to do it.

I’m no lega expert but I reckon there could be case in it. It’s been brought up

 

[The_Steadier]

WTF is the club doing?

Ripping the bandaid off and revealing the fiction that we all knew it was.

Even without the calf- best case for max was never round 0 in the AFL team.

Best case (before he did his calf) was always circa round 2 or 3 in probably the VFL.

Now when you add a 2 week calf- the new best case is what he has said today; circa round 4 return, probably via the VFL.

 

[Broski]

Polished media performance from Ross. I am incredibly grateful to have competent senior figures scattered across our club. Could you imagine having Richo or Ratten do that interview. We are seemingly in capable hands.

Will be very interesting to watch over the coming years if the AFL decides that the sport is exclusively a inequitable, money making exercise that caters to the two rugby states, or a proper professional sporting organisation.

I would put my money on it being the former, but the noise and pressure from the rest of the competition will continue to grow if the AFL thinks it can artificially keep the northern states competitive so fans remain engaged.

 

[Broski]

Ripping the bandaid off and revealing the fiction that we all knew it was.

Even without the calf- best case for max was never round 0 in the AFL team.

Best case (before he did his calf) was always circa round 2 or 3 in probably the VFL.

Now when you add a 2 week calf- the new best case is what he has said today; circa round 4 return, probably via the VFL.

Very interesting to see the change in thinking with Max since he first got injured. There was always a "you don't drive sports cars on goat tracks" but it seems like playing in the VFL has become a real possibility.

 

[Joffaboy]

Yeah that little extra and Max. WTF is the club doing? They put two weeks in the injury list but they "expect him back in round 4". That's another 6 weeks from today.

Did you not listen to the interview?
No football for a year, no conditioning, de loading as RTB called it.
He needs to get block in rehsb, then a block of injury free training then match time be it VFL or AFL.
Jesus some of you people. You just got it straight.
Even Everyone here said round 4 or 5 after the calf.

 

[Joffaboy]

It's a 2 week calf injury but he wasn't game ready when it happened so the rest of the time will be referring building that up.

From what I saw and gauged from him, even without the calf he was never playing opening round.
That interview was excellent, made Fagan sound like a fool, explained the systems he admires ( constantly mentions Geelong, and for good reason, also the Hawks), his philosophy for getting to the top and how the Saints has put everything in place.
Had Purple tied up in absolute knots.

 

[Joffaboy]

Having the gameplan and structure down pat, and being a well oiled machine, is why we were able to rest half the team and still win in that last H&A game against Hawks in 2009.

Freo did the same ( against us actually) but lost. Still went on to the GF.

 

[stavro#4]

From what I saw and gauged from him, even without the calf he was never playing opening round.
That interview was excellent, made Fagan aound like a fool, explained the systems he admires ( constantly mentions Geelong, and for good reason, also the Hawks), his philosophy for getting to the top and how the Saints has put everything in place.
Had Purple tied up in absolute knots.

When he touches on Neale going to Brisbane. That’s just enough of a shot across the bow that should shut up Fagan and Brisbane.

 

[SainterEire]

Round 4 for Max would mean round 5 and the gather round if I'm not mistaken? We have our bye in round 4.

12th of April return date so hopefully - plenty of time for rehab!