Training Saints preseason 2026

[Saintos The ITK]

tony74 Any update on Pou and King? Are they just managing loads? Also is Silvagni's groin issue as reported or potentially a bit more to it?

Would you like me to answer as Tony74.5?

 

[austinnn]

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.

Maybe you're overthinking it.

He was pick 4 in a national draft, our highest pick since Paddy McMatress. In fact, he replaced Paddy as our great white hope after his career was cruelly cut short. There it is, for me.

There is a sense the dead of night, when the doubts come creeping in, that it's never going to happen for us. Max is a living embodiment of that fear.

 

[Jade Buddha]

I’m hearing bad things regarding King. 100-1 shot to be fit for the start of the season. Still has a mountain of boxes to tick.

Then you need your hearing checked.

 

[AirWinmar]

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?

Its probably frustrating for fans, because although he hasnt played much the last 2 seasons we know that if he can get on the park, he will be at least a very good 50 goal per year forward at a minimum in my view. Positive is that we are taking it slowly now and if he can grt durability in his body, he is a gun forward.

Dont understand why it would be directed at Max though, its not his fault. If anything the club put too much on his shoulders too early.

 

[Sully111]

I'm hearing all those that didn't train on Wednesday joined a cult.

The cult is called the puppy kickers.

They spend their time drinking tea made from pansy leaves and making love to gypsys.

As the clock strikes midnight they kick a few puppies.... not too hard... but still.... it's not ideal.

That's what I'm hearing.

 

[AirWinmar]

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.

Also a young, lanky 204cm player being your forward focal point crashing packs obviously hard on his body

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Gentlemen, St Kilda finally knows how to run a club.

Scary times.

 

[sammm]

tony74 Any update on Pou and King? Are they just managing loads? Also is Silvagni's groin issue as reported or potentially a bit more to it?

LUcky we didn't sign Tom

 

[akaifu]

Came up in my recommended

 

[Saintbloke]

Gentlemen, St Kilda finally knows how to run a club.

When we win another flag, yes..but until then we're down in the pack with the reset of the hopefuls. Let's see what 2026 brings.

 

[OxSaint]

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.

I can see why SOS didn’t front the media during trade week. Thought it was odd at the time.

 

[gringo2011]

When we win another flag, yes..but until then we're down in the pack with the reset of the hopefuls. Let's see what 2026 brings.

We are a well run organisation right now. Results follow from the process being adhered to. Winning a flag is the ultimate reward but it doesn't define the way the club is run. On field improvement should come from the work done but there are no guarantees but you can guarantee that without doing it, you'll never move forward.

 

[True Believer]

I'm hearing all those that didn't train on Wednesday joined a cult.

The cult is called the puppy kickers.

They spend their time drinking tea made from pansy leaves and making love to gypsys.

As the clock strikes midnight they kick a few puppies.... not too hard... but still.... it's not ideal.

That's what I'm hearing.

I think there's a song in that somewhere.....

Probably something in a Nu Metal style arrangement.....maybe Slipknot-esque:


Ode to the Puppy Kickers

The Wednesday Cult is for me
Lose a whole day drinking tea
A brew from the leaves of pansies
Before a night spent riding gypsies

Waiting, watching,
For the clock to strike
Strike the witching hour
We unleash our power
Strike out with our feet
Small puppies we beat

Laughing at the King in the gym
And the Hunter who is just as thin
A group of tea drinking pansies
Waiting for the night riding gypsies

Waiting, watching,
For the clock to strike
Strike the witching hour
We unleash our power
Strike out with our feet
Small puppies we beat

 

[wannabewinner]

I can see why SOS didn’t front the media during trade week. Thought it was odd at the time.

From a bad juju perspective, this was the Lovett case but this time the playing list proximity was avoided. Now just have to avoid school girls.

 

[Leap of Faith]

I'm hearing all those that didn't train on Wednesday joined a cult.

The cult is called the puppy kickers.

They spend their time drinking tea made from pansy leaves and making love to gypsys.

As the clock strikes midnight they kick a few puppies.... not too hard... but still.... it's not ideal.

That's what I'm hearing.

Not surprised in any way. Disappointed, but not surprised.

 

[Sainter93]

I can just imagine the abuse JSOS is going to cop by the ferals in opening round

 

[stavro#4]

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)

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.

Maybe you're overthinking it.

He was pick 4 in a national draft, our highest pick since Paddy McMatress. In fact, he replaced Paddy as our great white hope after his career was cruelly cut short. There it is, for me.

There is a sense the dead of night, when the doubts come creeping in, that it's never going to happen for us. Max is a living embodiment of that fear.

Its probably frustrating for fans, because although he hasnt played much the last 2 seasons we know that if he can get on the park, he will be at least a very good 50 goal per year forward at a minimum in my view. Positive is that we are taking it slowly now and if he can grt durability in his body, he is a gun forward.

Dont understand why it would be directed at Max though, its not his fault. If anything the club put too much on his shoulders too early.

Look, King is absolutely still important to where we’re heading — no one’s denying that. But the idea that he’s our sole “great white hope” just doesn’t stack up anymore. The balance of talent on our list has shifted.

We’ve finally built a list where Max doesn’t have to be the centrepiece for us to succeed.

NWM has gone past him in terms of week-to-week influence and upside. Tauru’s debut season showed we’ve unearthed a genuine star in the making. Pous talent is still ridiculous, the kind clubs build grand plans and dreams around IF & once it clicks. And that’s before mentioning the rest of the young core who we all talk about stepping up.

For the first time in years, Max can just be a part of the picture rather than carrying the entire narrative of our future. He’ll still be a big piece, but he’s not the only piece and that’s actually a huge positive for both him and the club.

Our success isn’t hinging on one player anymore. It’s being built across a genuinely exciting young group. Which is why the attacks or the hysteria around King needs to stop.

 

[austinnn]

I can just imagine the abuse JSOS is going to cop by the ferals in opening round

Sad but true

 

[saintbill]

Apparently it’s around 800k.

It was a deal Max wanted for security.

Was told this 6ish weeks ago by someone who deals with his and other agents. So I’d like to think it’s somewhat accurate.

800k until 2032?

If that is true, then Max and his manager think he is no chance of any kind of longevity.

I struggle to see a world where he would sign for 800k and also has clauses about not playing due to injury as has been suggested.

If he does he has the dumbest manager in the world.

 

[saintbill]

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

There is a pesky little issue called a salary cap. What he gets paid relative to other players, and his output relative to said salary actually does contribute to our ability to succeed as a team, as it restricts our ability to either retain or attract other good players.

Do you honestly think the average person is pissed somebody that plays for a team they support makes more money than them? FMD, that is a strange take, even for you.

I look forward to your standard basic laughing emoji.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

There is a pesky little issue called a salary cap. What he gets paid relative to other players, and his output relative to said salary actually does contribute to our ability to succeed as a team, as it restricts our ability to either retain or attract other good players.

Do you honestly think the average person is pissed somebody that plays for a team they support makes more money than them? FMD, that is a strange take, even for you.

I look forward to your standard basic laughing emoji.

Fantastic take after we just negotiated the largest ever p/y deal, retained every player we wanted, and attracted 4 players from other clubs.

re: salaries, yes. A brief read of any trade/player threads on any board on here will show more than a few having a sook.

re: laughing emoji, it’s just because you’re so funny Billy boi

 

[The_Steadier]

exactly our long down the line game was non existant - now it could be a strength

Marshall had a horrible year for marking this year- really hope TDK in means he isn't so gassed all the time and he has more explosive power to take more marks etc.

 

[gringo2011]

Look, King is absolutely still important to where we’re heading — no one’s denying that. But the idea that he’s our sole “great white hope” just doesn’t stack up anymore. The balance of talent on our list has shifted.

We’ve finally built a list where Max doesn’t have to be the centrepiece for us to succeed.

NWM has gone past him in terms of week-to-week influence and upside. Tauru’s debut season showed we’ve unearthed a genuine star in the making. Pous talent is still ridiculous, the kind clubs build grand plans and dreams around IF & once it clicks. And that’s before mentioning the rest of the young core who we all talk about stepping up.

For the first time in years, Max can just be a part of the picture rather than carrying the entire narrative of our future. He’ll still be a big piece, but he’s not the only piece and that’s actually a huge positive for both him and the club.

Our success isn’t hinging on one player anymore. It’s being built across a genuinely exciting young group. Which is why the attacks or the hysteria around King needs to stop.

Nas is the man. We've been waiting for a superstar since Riewoldt left and he's absolutely stepped up to the plate. King was given the weight of expectation before he'd had time to settle in. I'd hate to be given that kind of pressure.

Phillipou is still a wait and see. He should be given room to grow and do it at his pace. Wilson is one that really could be anything too. He's had glimpses that suggest an absolute freak.

There are also a few others around them that might end up A graders behind them too. It's the healthiest list we've had in ages.

 

[gringo2011]

Sad but true

I doubt that. Aussies are dickheads but we usually have a pretty fair minded approach to our abusive behaviour. JSOS didn't do anything wrong.

 

[Sully111]

I doubt that. Aussies are dickheads but we usually have a pretty fair minded approach to our abusive behaviour. JSOS didn't do anything wrong.

I hope you're right.

My guess is there'd be a few who would stoop that low, but not many.