Training Saints preseason 2026

[dudeintheswamp]

Clavarino, Adams, Van Es, Highmore plus others delisted very early..Darragh Joyce got 6 years from memory!

I think even Darragh wouldn't have expected to be on an AFL list coming into his ninth season! Amazing story really, has played 24 games in the last eight seasons. The luck of the Irish...

 

[BrutThough]

Clavarino, Adams, Van Es, Highmore plus others delisted very early..Darragh Joyce got 6 years from memory!

Claverino got 4 years which is plenty for a draftee
Adams was a twat
Van Es injured
Highmore a mature ager who couldn't kick

If Keeler keeps developing, he should get another year as a depth option since he's athletic and can play multiple positions.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Claverino got 4 years which is plenty for a draftee
Adams was a twat
Van Es injured
Highmore a mature ager who couldn't kick

If Keeler keeps developing, he should get another year as a depth option since he's athletic and can play multiple positions.

It’s up to him of course, however I reckon Keeler has breakout written all over him.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Claverino got 4 years which is plenty for a draftee
Adams was a twat
Van Es injured
Highmore a mature ager who couldn't kick

If Keeler keeps developing, he should get another year as a depth option since he's athletic and can play multiple positions.

Bit harsh - Oscar was a very young kid in a new environment - reckon he'd have been an excellent fit for our list right now.

Punted on shifting from Adelaide to Qld for a 6 month contract at the Suns in last years mid season draft, ended up playing 8 games in the back half of the season and has now got himself a new contract.

Great effort.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

I had no idea/brain fog is real that Isaac Keeler is already in his fourth year!!
I had to do a bit of back digging ‘cos he’s a mystery man and there are a lot of free dreams spinning around the air in Jan/Feb looking for a home!

So;
recruited at #44 in the ‘22 draft. Somewhere in the Spencer Gulf SA. (That alone is a mystery place of folklore for a Hamptoner)

2023 Season
Non-starter. Tore his patella tendon in the final session of ‘22 season! (What luck!)
Managed 12 games at Sandy in the latter half of the season
2024
(Get this folks!)
Switched roles to defender. Trained as defender.
Knee troubles mid-season
Re-emerged as a forward towards the latter part of the season. You can see the report for him at full-forward for Sandy for the first time here (in round 17)https://www.saints.com.au/news/1608...captures-the-win-in-zebs-35-point-turn-around
2025
In and out early for unspecified reasons. (That is mysterious again)
Does hammy mid-season
Finally gets rolling
11 games (subbed off twice)
Strengths
Goal sense
Arial (vertical leap) and general agility
Defensive pressure
Weaknesses
Strength (pushed off or under the ball)
Tank
Consistency
Source: (I suspect) https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-draft-profile-isaac-keeler-130324/

‘Might need a couple of years’, writes the reporter in Nov ‘22. mnnn.

But compared to hammer, of a similar size and age, the trajectory is opposite

Not all key forwards blast out of the gate.

I still have big hopes for Keeler this year, 2 goals a game a chf would be a great return

 

[The Punter]

Not all key forwards blast out of the gate.

I still have big hopes for Keeler this year, 2 goals a game a chf would be a great return

Certainly would be. Only 14 players played at least 10 games last year and averaged 2 goals per game.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Certainly would be. Only 14 players played at least 10 games last year and averaged 2 goals per game.

I am very optimistic about keeler tbh, but I reckon he has it.

 

[puppy_dog7]

Leaving:
Carroll
LOC
Stocker
Dow
Said

I think Dow might actually suprise a few this year.

He's almost the forgotten man, but he was able to play the last month of the year and then build up in the off season.

He's 26 now, so he's hitting his prime. As long as he doesn't get injured and is able to do a full pre season i think he might be a smokey in our midfield group.

 

[Zzzed]

Hard to see Barrat and Said on the list in 2027.
2026 will be career defining for Carroll, Dow, Howard and Butler. They will need to play lots of senior footy if they are to go around again in 2027.
An injury riddled year for Henry would put him under the microscope

Unfortunately I think Marshall asks to be traded again and this time its granted
Can see the likes of Melbourne and North sniffing around Caminiti and Keeler.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Hard to see Barrat and Said on the list in 2027.
2026 will be career defining for Carroll, Dow, Howard and Butler. They will need to play lots of senior footy if they are to go around again in 2027.
An injury riddled year for Henry would put him under the microscope

Unfortunately I think Marshall asks to be traded again and this time its granted
Can see the likes of Melbourne and North sniffing around Caminiti and Keeler.

Forgot about Barratt wonder why he wasn't on that list of out of contract players from footywire? Would have got the standard 2 year contract I think?

Agree he's in trouble and a long way down the list. Felt like a reach at the time, you'd think we give him an extra year or two to prove himself.

Probably felt less of a reach since we managed to get Box and Dodson after.

Otherwise add him to the Clav, Adams, Van Es school of 2nd/3rd round tall KPD pick that didn't work out.

 

[BrutThough]

Bit harsh - Oscar was a very young kid in a new environment - reckon he'd have been an excellent fit for our list right now.

Punted on shifting from Adelaide to Qld for a 6 month contract at the Suns in last years mid season draft, ended up playing 8 games in the back half of the season and has now got himself a new contract.

Great effort.

It's harsh but his personality/work ethic issues impacted the decision to delist him. I'm glad it's worked out and hes got a second chance because most don't. Seems like he's learnt his lesson and doing better second time round.

 

[SG34]

I think Dow might actually suprise a few this year.

He's almost the forgotten man, but he was able to play the last month of the year and then build up in the off season.

He's 26 now, so he's hitting his prime. As long as he doesn't get injured and is able to do a full pre season i think he might be a smokey in our midfield group.

I don't get excited about him TBH. How do you think he went in the '24 season?

 

[ScrappyDo]

Hard to see Barrat and Said on the list in 2027.
2026 will be career defining for Carroll, Dow, Howard and Butler. They will need to play lots of senior footy if they are to go around again in 2027.
An injury riddled year for Henry would put him under the microscope

Unfortunately I think Marshall asks to be traded again and this time its granted
Can see the likes of Melbourne and North sniffing around Caminiti and Keeler.

Barrat was well rated and hasn't done much wrong. Very unlikely to be cut so quickly.
Older players that can't get a game a more likely in the gun with due consideration to retaining depth.

Byrnes
Stocker
Dow
Butts
Carroll
Henry - ret
King - ret
Said

 

[GehrigGOAT]

Rumor King has done his knee again? Or in for another op this year already? Anyone heard about this?

 

[Mavefromdelburn]

Rumor King has done his knee again? Or in for another op this year already? Anyone heard about this?

This will go down very well indeed, I'm sure!

 

[SainterinSydney]

Rumor King has done his knee again? Or in for another op this year already? Anyone heard about this?

Where did you hear that? He went in for a clean up before Xmas.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Where did you hear that? He went in for a clean up before Xmas.

Apparently during the "clean up" the surgeons found a toy car behind Max's patella.
That explains the clicking l suppose.

 

[BrutThough]

Do the players return to training tomorrow? Or Monday?

 

[SG34]

Apparently during the "clean up" the surgeons found a toy car behind Max's patella.
That explains the clicking l suppose.

It’s beyond the back of beyond now, isn’t it? Is the club still saying Round One? Or have they been muffled by the marketing department at Linton Street? Is this a realistic timeline?
1) start own training Feb?
2) spend March and April stepping up to match fitness and conditioning?
3) a couple of half’s in the seconds early May and back for Kings Birthday?

 

[SaintWrld]

Do the players return to training tomorrow? Or Monday?

Squads back on deck tomorrow morning starting with 3km time trials. Only here for a couple weeks then off to Sunshine Coast for a week long training camp

 

[gringo2011]

It’s beyond the back of beyond now, isn’t it? Is the club still saying Round One? Or have they been muffled by the marketing department at Linton Street? Is this a realistic timeline?
1) start own training Feb?
2) spend March and April stepping up to match fitness and conditioning?
3) a couple of half’s in the seconds early May and back for Kings Birthday?

Walking him down to the back paddock with the .22 behind their back so he doesn't know what's coming vibes if it's another one.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

It’s beyond the back of beyond now, isn’t it? Is the club still saying Round One? Or have they been muffled by the marketing department at Linton Street? Is this a realistic timeline?
1) start own training Feb?
2) spend March and April stepping up to match fitness and conditioning?
3) a couple of half’s in the seconds early May and back for Kings Birthday?

Where I live the Kings Birthday is on October 5th

 

[BrutThough]

Squads back on deck tomorrow morning starting with 3km time trials. Only here for a couple weeks then off to Sunshine Coast for a week long training camp

Feels like it's been a long time since we've done a proper full team training camp. Nice to see the club able to add those extra team building things into the program again.

 

[Mstr Strokesman]

Not all key forwards blast out of the gate.

I still have big hopes for Keeler this year, 2 goals a game a chf would be a great return

I see him as Rhyse Stanley Mk 2

 

[kosifantutti]

Where I live the Kings Birthday is on October 5th

It’s July 7 wherever you live.