Dougal made a believer out of me. Once he seemed to get rid of the brain fades, he won me over. I've watched him at games and been really impressed with how solid he was. I don't know how he'll go after injuries, but I wouldn't be writing him off yet.
Training Saints preseason 2026
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Dougal made a believer out of me. Once he seemed to get rid of the brain fades, he won me over. I've watched him at games and been really impressed with how solid he was. I don't know how he'll go after injuries, but I wouldn't be writing him off yet.
I have him in my best 23
SainterinSydney
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SainterinSydney
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The Box is an absolute unit. Saw him up close take a great contested mark in our last game against the Giants. What a great Dalrymple special!
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Diehard Saint
Brownlow Medallist
Very bullish about Hall and what he can do from here.
I don’t see “second year blues” with him as a more mature player
( I know still young)
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OK, a very long read with pre Christmas preseasons for each player – Remember, these are only my opinion of players so don’t @ me.
I think the numbers for the new recruits are correct and I have left Isacc Keeler at no.17 although he may have changed to No.37
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1.Jack Higgins – Stood out a bit more compared to last year, playing forward, running improved very lively at training becoming one of the senior players of the group.
2.Marcus Windhager – looks cut, running hard keeping up in the hard running drills just behind Wilson. Looks set for a big year, so far playing out of the midfield in whatever match sim they have been playing. Looking for him to blossom in 26
3.[PLAYERCARD]Jack Silvagni[/PLAYERCARD] – Injured and well documented personal issues. Let see after New Year
4.Lance Collard-. Seems to be pretty happy and settled. Hasn’t set the world on fire in sims but is enthusiastic and competing well. All the support in the world with [PLAYERCARD]Liam Ryan[/PLAYERCARD] and NWM. Is putting in at training, has the talent but don’t know if he will make it. I think the club sees him the long term replacement as Butler, Higgins and Ryan are getting older.
5.Tobie Travaglia –Dynamic of half back, clean disposal, has good game sense and can run all day. Running with a bit more vigour as he grows into his body. Has a deal of talent but don’t be surprised if he has second year blues a bit. Long term will be a beauty
6.Jack Macrae – We know what Macrae brings, however hardly sighted over pre Christmas. On a modified program
7.Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – taller, more filled out, working off a half back flank but is rolling through the mids more. A beautiful user of the ball, getting better all the time. He took the $$, pressure on to lead this football team on the field and drag us forward.
8.Brad Hill – Evergreen is Brad Hill. Very happy, hard running guy at training. Always having a laugh, getting around the younger indigenous guys, maintains his standards at training. Predicting he will slowly be phased out over the next couple of years. Still is the second best runner at the club though.
9. Sam Flanders – looks cut and fit. A great recruit. So far looks poised and talented. Hasn’t missed a training session and seems to have overcome his nagging back injury
10.Mitch Owens -no management of Chito this preseason, continues to develop in a meaningful way. Forget him as a mid, he will be a damaging medium forward.
11.[PLAYERCARD]Hunter Clark[/PLAYERCARD] – Has had a knee this preseason. Don’t know about his future with the depth of talent we have at the club.
12.Max King – the usual
13.[PLAYERCARD]Ryan Byrnes[/PLAYERCARD] –Works very hard at training, has looked very sharp, now has lots of competition. Can’t just dial it in with the likes of Wilson, Pou, Dow, Travalgia, Hall, Banfield and Ryan etc now at the club. Good on him for managing to stay on the list. Will be depth.
14.[PLAYERCARD]Liam Stocker[/PLAYERCARD] –managing a hand/finger injury. One year contract so needs to get fit and really push for that small back role. Some competition for his position.
15.[PLAYERCARD]Paddy Dow[/PLAYERCARD] – Seems very balanced and his seniors experience really shows with his positioning. Will be challenged for his position by Flanders, Hall, Clark, Garcia, Windy etc. Needs to show why he was a pick 3 selection at the draft. Does nothing wrong but to me seems very vanilla. Coming off a terrible injury, hope he makes it, but looks like depth at the moment.
16.Dan Butler –Fully fit this preseason but hasn’t stood out. Higgo and Ryan ahead of him ATM. Being used as a HFF in the drills where RL wants width. He is positioning himself on the wing. Will be interesting where he lines up.
17.Isaac Keeler.- Bigger again. Nice size, bigger around the arse and shoulders, glides about the field, highly skilled, nice disposal. Competing much better with Marshall in ruck drills this preseason He is an out an out forward/ relief ruckman in my opinion. Has been one of the younger ones to have developed over the offseason.
18. Jack Carroll– good pickup, nice size, seems to read the play well, has has stood out off a HBF I preseason. A good move with the plethora of young mids clamouring for a spot there. If he can transfer track form to game form, he will be a better version of Bonner.
19.[PLAYERCARD]Rowan Marshall[/PLAYERCARD] – absolute class. Still can ba an AA ruckman. Has some competition in the ruck role with TDK and Keeler coming on. Looked to move but seems happy enough back at training. Having some good duels with Keeler while TDk is on a modified program and Dodson recovers from a hammy.
20.[PLAYERCARD]Dougal Howard[/PLAYERCARD] – Doug being Doug. Straightens up the defence and it looks a lot more solid with him down back.
21.Tom Dekoning – Modified program. Should be ready to go post New Year. Nice size, will work well in tandem with Marshall especially with King dodgey AF
22.Darcy Wilson – elite runner, again last session, running at the front of the fastest group hardly blowing. Some second year blues in 25 but came back with a vengeance near the end of the season with 5 goals against GWS a highlight. Biggest tank literally in the League. Has grown into an absolute hulk and his running through the guts at speed is elite and reminds me of the power of Dangerfield. If NWM was a must to sigh last year, Darcy Wilson is an absolute must for this season. Standout at pre season.
23.Liam Henry – in rehab with the knee. Still playing up. Could be a miss in the recruiting stakes.
24.Angus Hastie – seems taller and starting to fill out, but is very clean with the ball in hand, and positions nicely in match sim type drills. Another of the RL types, balanced, runs all day. Needs to improve his disposal accuracy. Had some terrible clangers on game day throughout the season. Misses quite a few at training. So much competition he need to improve his accuracy.
25.Mattaes Phillipou –Fully fit after a terribly interrupted season in 25. A big lad and is looking impressive in early season training.
26.Alix Tauru – I still think he needs a deal of development. Has sloppy disposal, costing a few turnover goals in 25. Excused a bit as he had no preseason and looked knackered at seasons end. Hasn’t really impressed me this preseason but I mark him hard. Hasn’t been bad at all, just we need to temper expectations somewhat and let him develop.
28.James Barrat – looks 25, already has an AFL footballers body, seems to be the usual. Rinse, repeat here, nice mover, good disposal, can take a nice mark. Needs to read the play a little better. Not sure if he replaces Webster first up, a little bit of development, but can see hugh potential in James. Has been injured this preseason. Will probably develop in the VFL
30.Alex Dodson - tweaked a hammy, but has grown and looking more filled out. As exciting a prospect as a ruck since Spider Everett in my opinion.
31. [PLAYERCARD]Liam Ryan[/PLAYERCARD] – not the most aerobically fit, but is putting in extra running as far as I can see and looks very exciting in the drills. Didn’t move to Melbourne to play VFL.
32.[PLAYERCARD]Mason Wood[/PLAYERCARD] –Running strongly. Putting in his usual preseason. The wing is still his but will need to work for it. Hope he stays on at the club when he retires. Like Hill should be phased out over the next season.
33.Patrick Said – smaller than the other mid recruits and needs a fair bit of development. Has been in rehab with injury.
34.Hugo Garcia – Like Wilson has filled out. Very intense at training. Look out for a big year for Hugo
35.[PLAYERCARD]Jack Sinclair[/PLAYERCARD] – what do we expect from Sinc’s except the best. Look to see him running through the mids but mainly at half back where he was AA.
36. Charlie Banfield – great size for a recruit. Good disposal, big big Tank. Performed well over preseason. Will be groomed as a wingman. Not explosive speed but is quick enough. Can also run through the mids.
37. Kye Fincher – classy backman that will need a bit of development, but seems to have a good skillset
38.Hugh Boxshall – We were all impressed with Hugh in his seniors games in 25. Ha continued to look stong on the ball and in the contest (a bit of a Richo’ism there) but will be a strong inside mid who can get his own ball. Bright future for Hugh.
40. Max Hall – Highly impressive in 25 and so far at preseason. Early on I wasn’t that impressed last preseason, after New Year I saw what everyone else saw. Some on here rate him extremely highly and I can see why. Would have been so pissed if the Hawks got another potential champ for SFA. Glad we got him.
43r.Cooper Sharman – very impressive this preseason with everything he does. Bigger tank, very nice positioning up forward outworking his opponent in match sim. May be a main target if King is still out.
44.[PLAYERCARD]Callum Wilkie[/PLAYERCARD] – Wilks does what Wilks does. Always a polished performer. Worth every cent
45b.Liam O'Connell – nice size, Works hard. Looking very solid this preseason. Would think Websters spot is his if he continues on his current route.
46b. Eammonn Armstrong – unbelievable size for a 19 year. Looks every inch a footballer. Kicking is improving every session it seems, just needs some game time development and positioning. Could be an excellent recruit going into 2027
47.Anthony Caminiti –Seems to have a bit more definition. Don’t know where he plays but suggestion is forward. Makes sense as the likes of Silvagni O’Connell, Carroll have developed and can take his medium back spot. Seems better somehow this preseason, can put my finger on it. Maybe throwing his weight around a bit more.
I think the numbers for the new recruits are correct and I have left Isacc Keeler at no.17 although he may have changed to No.37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Jack Higgins – Stood out a bit more compared to last year, playing forward, running improved very lively at training becoming one of the senior players of the group.
2.Marcus Windhager – looks cut, running hard keeping up in the hard running drills just behind Wilson. Looks set for a big year, so far playing out of the midfield in whatever match sim they have been playing. Looking for him to blossom in 26
3.[PLAYERCARD]Jack Silvagni[/PLAYERCARD] – Injured and well documented personal issues. Let see after New Year
4.Lance Collard-. Seems to be pretty happy and settled. Hasn’t set the world on fire in sims but is enthusiastic and competing well. All the support in the world with [PLAYERCARD]Liam Ryan[/PLAYERCARD] and NWM. Is putting in at training, has the talent but don’t know if he will make it. I think the club sees him the long term replacement as Butler, Higgins and Ryan are getting older.
5.Tobie Travaglia –Dynamic of half back, clean disposal, has good game sense and can run all day. Running with a bit more vigour as he grows into his body. Has a deal of talent but don’t be surprised if he has second year blues a bit. Long term will be a beauty
6.Jack Macrae – We know what Macrae brings, however hardly sighted over pre Christmas. On a modified program
7.Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – taller, more filled out, working off a half back flank but is rolling through the mids more. A beautiful user of the ball, getting better all the time. He took the $$, pressure on to lead this football team on the field and drag us forward.
8.Brad Hill – Evergreen is Brad Hill. Very happy, hard running guy at training. Always having a laugh, getting around the younger indigenous guys, maintains his standards at training. Predicting he will slowly be phased out over the next couple of years. Still is the second best runner at the club though.
9. Sam Flanders – looks cut and fit. A great recruit. So far looks poised and talented. Hasn’t missed a training session and seems to have overcome his nagging back injury
10.Mitch Owens -no management of Chito this preseason, continues to develop in a meaningful way. Forget him as a mid, he will be a damaging medium forward.
11.[PLAYERCARD]Hunter Clark[/PLAYERCARD] – Has had a knee this preseason. Don’t know about his future with the depth of talent we have at the club.
12.Max King – the usual
13.[PLAYERCARD]Ryan Byrnes[/PLAYERCARD] –Works very hard at training, has looked very sharp, now has lots of competition. Can’t just dial it in with the likes of Wilson, Pou, Dow, Travalgia, Hall, Banfield and Ryan etc now at the club. Good on him for managing to stay on the list. Will be depth.
14.[PLAYERCARD]Liam Stocker[/PLAYERCARD] –managing a hand/finger injury. One year contract so needs to get fit and really push for that small back role. Some competition for his position.
15.[PLAYERCARD]Paddy Dow[/PLAYERCARD] – Seems very balanced and his seniors experience really shows with his positioning. Will be challenged for his position by Flanders, Hall, Clark, Garcia, Windy etc. Needs to show why he was a pick 3 selection at the draft. Does nothing wrong but to me seems very vanilla. Coming off a terrible injury, hope he makes it, but looks like depth at the moment.
16.Dan Butler –Fully fit this preseason but hasn’t stood out. Higgo and Ryan ahead of him ATM. Being used as a HFF in the drills where RL wants width. He is positioning himself on the wing. Will be interesting where he lines up.
17.Isaac Keeler.- Bigger again. Nice size, bigger around the arse and shoulders, glides about the field, highly skilled, nice disposal. Competing much better with Marshall in ruck drills this preseason He is an out an out forward/ relief ruckman in my opinion. Has been one of the younger ones to have developed over the offseason.
18. Jack Carroll– good pickup, nice size, seems to read the play well, has has stood out off a HBF I preseason. A good move with the plethora of young mids clamouring for a spot there. If he can transfer track form to game form, he will be a better version of Bonner.
19.[PLAYERCARD]Rowan Marshall[/PLAYERCARD] – absolute class. Still can ba an AA ruckman. Has some competition in the ruck role with TDK and Keeler coming on. Looked to move but seems happy enough back at training. Having some good duels with Keeler while TDk is on a modified program and Dodson recovers from a hammy.
20.[PLAYERCARD]Dougal Howard[/PLAYERCARD] – Doug being Doug. Straightens up the defence and it looks a lot more solid with him down back.
21.Tom Dekoning – Modified program. Should be ready to go post New Year. Nice size, will work well in tandem with Marshall especially with King dodgey AF
22.Darcy Wilson – elite runner, again last session, running at the front of the fastest group hardly blowing. Some second year blues in 25 but came back with a vengeance near the end of the season with 5 goals against GWS a highlight. Biggest tank literally in the League. Has grown into an absolute hulk and his running through the guts at speed is elite and reminds me of the power of Dangerfield. If NWM was a must to sigh last year, Darcy Wilson is an absolute must for this season. Standout at pre season.
23.Liam Henry – in rehab with the knee. Still playing up. Could be a miss in the recruiting stakes.
24.Angus Hastie – seems taller and starting to fill out, but is very clean with the ball in hand, and positions nicely in match sim type drills. Another of the RL types, balanced, runs all day. Needs to improve his disposal accuracy. Had some terrible clangers on game day throughout the season. Misses quite a few at training. So much competition he need to improve his accuracy.
25.Mattaes Phillipou –Fully fit after a terribly interrupted season in 25. A big lad and is looking impressive in early season training.
26.Alix Tauru – I still think he needs a deal of development. Has sloppy disposal, costing a few turnover goals in 25. Excused a bit as he had no preseason and looked knackered at seasons end. Hasn’t really impressed me this preseason but I mark him hard. Hasn’t been bad at all, just we need to temper expectations somewhat and let him develop.
28.James Barrat – looks 25, already has an AFL footballers body, seems to be the usual. Rinse, repeat here, nice mover, good disposal, can take a nice mark. Needs to read the play a little better. Not sure if he replaces Webster first up, a little bit of development, but can see hugh potential in James. Has been injured this preseason. Will probably develop in the VFL
30.Alex Dodson - tweaked a hammy, but has grown and looking more filled out. As exciting a prospect as a ruck since Spider Everett in my opinion.
31. [PLAYERCARD]Liam Ryan[/PLAYERCARD] – not the most aerobically fit, but is putting in extra running as far as I can see and looks very exciting in the drills. Didn’t move to Melbourne to play VFL.
32.[PLAYERCARD]Mason Wood[/PLAYERCARD] –Running strongly. Putting in his usual preseason. The wing is still his but will need to work for it. Hope he stays on at the club when he retires. Like Hill should be phased out over the next season.
33.Patrick Said – smaller than the other mid recruits and needs a fair bit of development. Has been in rehab with injury.
34.Hugo Garcia – Like Wilson has filled out. Very intense at training. Look out for a big year for Hugo
35.[PLAYERCARD]Jack Sinclair[/PLAYERCARD] – what do we expect from Sinc’s except the best. Look to see him running through the mids but mainly at half back where he was AA.
36. Charlie Banfield – great size for a recruit. Good disposal, big big Tank. Performed well over preseason. Will be groomed as a wingman. Not explosive speed but is quick enough. Can also run through the mids.
37. Kye Fincher – classy backman that will need a bit of development, but seems to have a good skillset
38.Hugh Boxshall – We were all impressed with Hugh in his seniors games in 25. Ha continued to look stong on the ball and in the contest (a bit of a Richo’ism there) but will be a strong inside mid who can get his own ball. Bright future for Hugh.
40. Max Hall – Highly impressive in 25 and so far at preseason. Early on I wasn’t that impressed last preseason, after New Year I saw what everyone else saw. Some on here rate him extremely highly and I can see why. Would have been so pissed if the Hawks got another potential champ for SFA. Glad we got him.
43r.Cooper Sharman – very impressive this preseason with everything he does. Bigger tank, very nice positioning up forward outworking his opponent in match sim. May be a main target if King is still out.
44.[PLAYERCARD]Callum Wilkie[/PLAYERCARD] – Wilks does what Wilks does. Always a polished performer. Worth every cent
45b.Liam O'Connell – nice size, Works hard. Looking very solid this preseason. Would think Websters spot is his if he continues on his current route.
46b. Eammonn Armstrong – unbelievable size for a 19 year. Looks every inch a footballer. Kicking is improving every session it seems, just needs some game time development and positioning. Could be an excellent recruit going into 2027
47.Anthony Caminiti –Seems to have a bit more definition. Don’t know where he plays but suggestion is forward. Makes sense as the likes of Silvagni O’Connell, Carroll have developed and can take his medium back spot. Seems better somehow this preseason, can put my finger on it. Maybe throwing his weight around a bit more.
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Diehard Saint
Brownlow Medallist
Predicting plenty of Thursday night selection melts!
Ain’t that great - so many to choose from if we have a good injury run.
Stan_Darsh72
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Very pleasing to hear.
If Wilson has managed to not lose speed and endurance while gaining bulk he can become our Patrick Dangerfield.
beside the seaside
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Bit of a shame that the penny hasn't dropped yet for Byrnesy.
Jesuswasacarpenter
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Can someone post a pic of Tex W.
I reckon he is out at a bar I am at.
I reckon he is out at a bar I am at.
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From what I've seen, he's not going to go down without a fight this preseason. Doing everything right at this stage. If someone else gets that starting FB stop ahead of him, they will have earned it.
Grav
Cacas Suscito
Will be solid down back. Not super fast but will eliminate high entries and make the oppo forward line more accountable. 2025 was our worst year as a defensive unit for some time.
CaptainRisky
Brownlow Medallist
How dare anyone say anything bad about someone from WA and no there is no theme here as much as you want to try and make out there is.
Sounds like you are the one that needs a cuddle.
Dr Spaceman
Brownlow Medallist
It would be nice if we could all respect each other and get along.
We need a lot less hate in the world and far more kindness.
I know that cos I just saw an ad and Kyle Sandilands told me so
We need a lot less hate in the world and far more kindness.
I know that cos I just saw an ad and Kyle Sandilands told me so
Saintscomemarchingin
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If Howard, JSOS & King continue to have injury issues, our KPP depth will seriously be under pressure.
Having to rely on Barrat, Caminiti, Dodson, Keeler & Tauru is not ideal. Caminiti the oldest at 22 y.o, when talls usually take longer to develop fully.
Can't understand why someone like Wade Derksen hasn't been invited to train-on over pre-season. He can play at both ends.
Having to rely on Barrat, Caminiti, Dodson, Keeler & Tauru is not ideal. Caminiti the oldest at 22 y.o, when talls usually take longer to develop fully.
Can't understand why someone like Wade Derksen hasn't been invited to train-on over pre-season. He can play at both ends.
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I’ll start by clearly stating I want every single player on our list to succeed, because it means we will. Having favourites is one thing, but I definitely don’t death ride any St Kilda player.
My mention of Henry was merely passed on as I had had the conversation with a relative who is full-time at the club. He doesn’t give me much very often, so my ears pricked when he mentioned the worries on Henry’s application as it just sounds that maybe he isn’t getting the best out of himself right now.
I think he could be a lethal piece to our puzzle if he’s fit and healthy so I hope he can reach his obvious potential soon. That’s all.
Howard is in full training.
Stan_Darsh72
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I wonder if Henry just does not have the confidence with his body to go all out.
He was pretty electric innthe first half of 2024.
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Geez it's a worry that after all these years in the system Ryan presumably has major preparation issues.
Even if (best case) he responds to a bake and starts getting fitter etc from now on- if he's been slack for years prior; he'll be at high risk of constant soft tissue injuries, especially at his age.
He was already a risky target on very decent money at his age- if he ends up constantly injured it suddenly looks far more dumb than brave
longtimesaint
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I think Tony was talking about Liam Ryan
Nope, Gerry Ryan, big trouble at RSEA!
Saintscomemarchingin
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Joe Daniher & Charlie Curnow are good examples for King.
Both looked to be cooked.
But managed to return without further hindrance.
CaptainRisky
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Except curnows cooked again and daniher retired at age 30. :/
