Training Saints preseason 2026

[Nutsngum]

Spoke to someone who is related to Kingy on Saturday. He confirmed Max is tracking well, and he hasn't had any major setbacks this preseason. The club is just easing him back into his workload, but he should be fit for round 1 if everything goes well. I asked him about Ben, and he said Ben is happy up in GC, pleased with the list and especially the coaching staff. He doesn't know much about what's happening with Ben's contract situation.

However, he did say both Kings want to play together at some point, preferably in Melbourne.

He talked a bit about how much he loved playing with his brother in juniors when he was on Warne's son's podcast so thats no surprise at all.

 

[gringo2011]

A mountain of boxes to tick?

In the last 3 weeks we have people who have witnessed him running, kicking and having set shots.

We know he has done a mountain of gym work and put on size, which would represent loading up his preparation.

We have had the herald sun confirm he will be in main training after Christmas.

Like the literal next step is Max in full training. Once in full training, it’s games.

So Feb 28 is the Essendon practice match. Which is 79 days from today.

Opening round is 87 days from today.

So we are asking a player entering his 8th pre season, to ramp up after Christmas as we heading into our match build phase of preseason.

If he isn’t ready for round 0 in just under 3 months, then the club are leaving this unbelievably late to break the news that he is behind the schedule they have put out.

Even if he isn’t ready surely he is a nice bonus if he is ready by round one. We haven’t really had our game plan built around him playing every week. As long as he isn’t having set backs it’s a positive at this point.

 

[gringo2011]

I really don’t understand why we have supporters who target max.

It’s the weirdest thing I’ve seen - probably ever from this supporter base.

Heartbreak cope.

 

[gringo2011]

Fans in general are hilarious with money. Because they’re on $75k they get pissed when a kid is on 10x that. Love it.

It’s the disappointment after investing so much hope in one guy to carry your side. I predicted it early on. The danger of pushing a kid to carry all hopes before they’re settled in. He’s done well to carry it but it’s got to make his time in footy pretty stressful. Hopefully he gets a good run at it and gets some reward without the pressure.

 

[g_TRAIN]

With Max, expectations are at an all-time low.

Maybe without those expectations he can play with a bit of freedom and enjoy his footy.

That might be what he needs

 

[yipper]

I really don’t understand why we have supporters who target max.

It’s the weirdest thing I’ve seen - probably ever from this supporter base.

here here. 100% weird...

 

[SainterinSydney]

I really don’t understand why we have supporters who target max.

It’s the weirdest thing I’ve seen - probably ever from this supporter base.

I think it's more because Max is the great hope and the one many supporters have viewed as the difference between a flag or no flag. The supporters are actually venting their own frustrations towards St Kilda and the desperation for a flag at Max. He is like a symbol of the light at the end of tunnel.

That is just my take.

 

[stavro#4]

I think it's more because Max is the great hope and the one many supporters have viewed as the difference between a flag or no flag. The supporters are actually venting their own frustrations towards St Kilda and the desperation for a flag at Max. He is like a symbol of the light at the end of tunnel.

That is just my take.

Evidently we have a superstar in Nas and a great bunch of kids + King hasn’t played in 18 months. How can he still be viewed as the great hope?

 

[ronnysnodgrass]

View attachment 2494008

who amongst us......

 

[ronnysnodgrass]

Evidently we have a superstar in Nas and a great bunch of kids + King hasn’t played in 18 months. How can he still be viewed as the great hope?

Because he was sold to us this way, it's not his fault. Gut says he comes good but so far that draft was a missed opportunity (not a fail, just a miss)

 

[Dard Ball Get]

It’s the disappointment after investing so much hope in one guy to carry your side. I predicted it early on. The danger of pushing a kid to carry all hopes before they’re settled in. He’s done well to carry it but it’s got to make his time in footy pretty stressful. Hopefully he gets a good run at it and gets some reward without the pressure.

Who pushed him? Only softies on here wetting their panties over it with false wages, contract details etc.
"Predicting" that is like celebrating saying you told us the sun would come up this morning x

 

[ESPN8 The Ocho]

Fans in general are hilarious with money. Because they’re on $75k they get pissed when a kid is on 10x that. Love it.

I see from your avatar that Lancey Boy has a sense of humour.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

I see from your avatar that Lancey Boy has a sense of humour.

Last I heard he's extremely homesick and lazy and can't wait to get home

 

[gringo2011]

Evidently we have a superstar in Nas and a great bunch of kids + King hasn’t played in 18 months. How can he still be viewed as the great hope?

It was a huge investment of time and energy from a lot of fans. It's a bit like having a lame racehorse that you thought was winning you the Melbourne cup. You still love it but part of you is heartbroken at the loss of what could have been.

Luckily Max still has time to come good. He's a lot like Joe Daniher was before leaving Essendon. Hopefully he gets his reward at the Saints.

 

[gringo2011]

Who pushed him? Only softies on here wetting their panties over it with false wages, contract details etc.
"Predicting" that is like celebrating saying you told us the sun would come up this morning x

The administrators made him the face of the club before he was ready IMO. He should have been left to learn his craft and then pushed out in front of the world. We were desperate at the time.Part of the issue is that hopes were pinned on him and when they weren't met people lost their shit.

 

[Sully111]

Our midfield has been a joke

If he can get on the park, let’s see how max goes with the likes of Nas, Hall and Flanders delivering the ball to him.

I hope he gets a good run at it and explodes…. As much for him as for the team.

 

[gringo2011]

Our midfield has been a joke

If he can get on the park, let’s see how max goes with the likes of Nas, Hall and Flanders delivering the ball to him.

I hope he gets a good run at it and explodes…. As much for him as for the team.

If he comes good he's the biggest recruit we will have next season. Probably worth a couple of ladder spots....so I'm doing exactly what I'm accusing the club of.

 

[Ads734]

Not sure having a bloke on 1m a year that doesn't play is lucky.

King is 1-2 more serious injuries away from career over and he is signed until 2032.

Not confident his knee holds up long term. I think it is one of the riskiest contracts in the AFL.

Sarcasm my friend sarcasm. Yes I agree completely agree.

 

[Ads734]

Fans in general are hilarious with money. Because they’re on $75k they get pissed when a kid is on 10x that. Love it.

Not in the slightest. I’m not sure if youlve heard but I don’t think there is one saints fan upset about about Naz being paid twice that.

I think the concern and it’s nothing against Max personally was signing him in a big contract untill 2032 with his injury history.i guarantee we will all be stoaked if Max stays fit.

Once again the concerns with Silvagni… then you look at who his Dad is.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

Not in the slightest. I’m not sure if youlve heard but I don’t think there is one saints fan upset about about Naz being paid twice that.

I think the concern and it’s nothing against Max personally was signing him in a big contract untill 2032 with his injury history.i guarantee we will all be stoaked if Max stays fit.

Once again the concerns with Silvagni… then you look at who his Dad is.

Not in the slightest ol Adsy

 

[Dard Ball Get]

The administrators made him the face of the club before he was ready IMO. He should have been left to learn his craft and then pushed out in front of the world. We were desperate at the time.Part of the issue is that hopes were pinned on him and when they weren't met people lost their shit.

If the admin didn't "push him in front of the world" the muppets on here would be beating their heads against the wall because hE's NoWherE tO Be SeEn!!
Look at this week, Pou misses a training and the sky was falling, turns out he just needed mouth stitches. Love it.

As Sully said, we finally have a midfield and a coach capable of feeding him, can't wait.

 

[CursingFijian]

...the muppets on here...

 

[Ads734]

So the wider Silvagni situation aye…. Not a great feeling in the tummy.

 

[Bob Butter]

So the wider Silvagni situation aye…. Not a great feeling in the tummy.

Meh, big nothing burger imo that won’t fall back on the club at all. It’s not like SOS or Jack did anything.

Every POS like Tom Silvagni has a mum, dad, brother, sister etc, and they’re not held accountable for the actions of the perpetrator.

If it were Ross’ kid then it might be a bit of a distraction, but SOS doesn’t face the media so I’d say it will have little to no effect on the club or playing group.

 

[BrutThough]

A bit late to this discussion but it's not unusual for players not to be sighted on the Wednesday session. It's the one they will miss in the preseason if they are being managed or are older.