Training Saints preseason 2026

[beside the seaside]

Actually Lenny locks in both King and Jsos by the end of the month for full training.

Seems a bit ambitious if Max is just jogging laps at the moment.

 

[thequarry]

Not sure if this is quite the right spot for this, so mods please move/delete if not:

I ended up writing around 20,000 words in all on following St Kilda throughout 2025, which I posted to my blog Red, White and Black over two parts.

Here is part one - Summer and Autumn, a week-by-week look at the (brief) rise and fall of a season, breaking jinxes, losing the unloseable, the lowest crowd and taking it all in through a new media and social media landscape: https://redwhiteandblack.com.au/2025/12/01/2025-season-review-part-1-love-takes-miles/

And part two - Winter and Spring (and some Summer), becoming a father, the Miracle, and what it could mean; Nas; Tauru season; falling in and out of fashion; and St Kilda making its move.
https://redwhiteandblack.com.au/202...part-2-winter-and-spring-fourteen-shows-down/

Hope you get something out of it!

 

[SainterinSydney]

Actually Lenny locks in both King and Jsos by the end of the month for full training.

I meant more in terms of playing opening round.

 

[saintmike65]

Really good contingent of saints players plus a sprinkling of VFL players today.
Jack Carroll again impressed, with Nas, Hally and Henry prominent in match sim.
With the work in the gym it's noticeable the tackling has improved.
Nice to see young Barratt starting to show a bit more, particularly his kicking to position.
Sinclair and Nas were superb, both with run and carry and creative ball use.
Mitch Owens was prominent up forward and looks set for a big year, as do Windhager and Garcia.

 

[Saints4ever]

Really good contingent of saints players plus a sprinkling of VFL players today.
Jack Carroll again impressed, with Nas, Hally and Henry prominent in match sim.
With the work in the gym it's noticeable the tackling has improved.
Nice to see young Barratt starting to show a bit more, particularly his kicking to position.
Sinclair and Nas were superb, both with run and carry and creative ball use.
Mitch Owens was prominent up forward and looks set for a big year, as do Windhager and Garcia.

Love to hear that Jack Carroll continues to impress I really hope he locks down a half back role.

Can I ask what has been impressing you this summer with Carroll?

Is it his ball movement, run and carry, defensive work, foot skills?

Would love another elite user across half back.

 

[Ads734]

My notes
- training was as usual focused around transition imo. Or at least the defensive and offensive sides of it.

Regarding standouts. I think genreally it’s hard at training because certain drills focus on certain aspects ie defensive transition will be.

Anyways some notes.

Naz continues to just make the most difficult things look effortless. Unbelievable.

Max hall kicked a rip snorter and his delivery, disposal has just taken an another step up.

I thought hunts looked good in match sim using his left and right peg.

Flanders did some match sim then some running.

TDK looked a bit rusty although he and Ro competed well.

Lance and keels both showed a bit imo.

Pous quick hands were great and he launched a 45 metre right foot inside 50 kick. His tenacity during the session I thought was first class. He switched between mid and forward. Was mainly mid for the boys I saw.

Windy and Owens led the way with both performing really strongly. Mitch in particular.

a couple more notes.

I really like the look of banfield. Body wise he’s great. Seems like a super possitive lad and has great energy. Still needs to clear up his kicking. But he just fits in.

fincher a bit more behind imo. Still nice skills.

Trav worked hard as did LOC. I’m still massive on LOC.

Dodson looks good in skills and his coordination is Ace for his size. Didn’t do match sim tho.

Re king was doing some very mechanical style run throughs. Looked ok but thought he wasn’t running smoothly.

 

[Ads734]

Love to hear that Jack Carroll continues to impress I really hope he locks down a half back role.

Can I ask what has been impressing you this summer with Carroll?

Is it his ball movement, run and carry, defensive work, foot skills?

Would love another elite user across half back.

Today it was his decision making and ball use. Just backed himself in to get the extra space and make the correct decision.

 

[Saints4ever]

Thanks to everyone that posts training reports.

As as interstate member it helps me stay informed and feel close to the club.

It really is appreciated.

 

[stavro#4]

Seems a bit ambitious if Max is just jogging laps at the moment.

Last week he wasn't even doing that apparently.

the progression is full training and match sim by the end of January.

So 3 weeks to go from repeat sprints/jogs and lap running to that.

its not that far off.

 

[stavro#4]

 

[Mowman]

Went to training today, incoherent ramblings of what I saw below:

King over the far side doing repeat 100m jogs, not limping or anything but not moving with any real purpose or pace.

Flanders did heaps of laps at a really good pace. Looks good, and while match sim was happening he stopped and was instructing Hammer to talk more with his defensive unit, and direct more. Very vocal which is good to see from a new player.

Quick full ground sim:
-Tobie very nice hands in tight and really attacks the footy in the contest.
-(I think) Collard had a grouse run down tackle of Henry who was trying to step him, got a big applause from the team.
-TDK moving well for a big unit, peeled off Ro and was running with Macrae for a big intercept. Awesome leap on him.
-Sharman is so undererated. Has great hands, a cool head and always makes the right choice. An underrated field kick too. Set up a couple of goals with i50 kicks that were pin point. He's looking fantastic.
-Owens is a bull, hit the ball at pace and pushed through about 4 or 5 players out the other side of the pack.
-Darcy Wilson is so quick. He's in for a massive year. Great smother on Sincs got the cheers of his teammates.
-Another in for a massive year is Hall. He looks so good. Probably saw him have 5 or 6 touches and they were all gold. Roved a crumb at pace and snapped for goal from about 40m.

JSOS running laps, seemed to be moving well enough. Also saw him later in the 50 with a few other rehab boys doing kick, mark, repeat leads i50.

1v1 contest work against the boundary:
Through this and the centre of the ground drills they were doing, there's clearly a big focus on defensive unit positioning, as well as 1v1 work - corralling against the line etc.
-Wilson v Owens a great matchup, super physical.
-Sinclair burns Banfield off pretty easily.

Centre 3rd roughly 10v10:
-Nas' kicking is just ridiculous. Even from the higher point that I had he was creating and hitting targets I couldn't see until he did it. Crazy.
-Hall again unreal. Makes the right choices and has such good vision.
-Liam Ryan nice and vocal, directing.
-Sincs gives Hammer a big ol' spray for taking the wrong option out of defense.

Ross out there today, was really vocal, lots of direction and encouragement.

Full ground sim:
-Hill's running is still amazing, effectively doing full ground sprints up and back just burning anyone who tries to peel off and go with him.
-Owens again too strong, beats Wilkie 1v1. Is again going to be a handful for defenders this year.
-Ryan made a nice contest out of not much, leapt up, brought the ball down and quickly made the right choice centring the ball to an open player for a shot at goal, earnt the praise of Lenny from the sidelines.
-Speaking of Lenny, had his hands on his head saying it was 'heart in mouth stuff' when Nas ran through the centre for the give and go twice, full sprint to the 50m arc with Wilson hunting him down and making enough ground to actually get him just as he kicked it. Was an amazing run through by Nas and a cracking chase by Wilson.

Hall, Wilson, Sharman, Owen imo looked awesome today, in for big years hopefully!

Missed a heap, and bound to repeat stuff from others that were there but anyway, cheerio.

Great Post Buddy

 

[beside the seaside]

Last week he wasn't even doing that apparently.

the progression is full training and match sim by the end of January.

So 3 weeks to go from repeat sprints/jogs and lap running to that.

its not that far off.

I'd be stunned if he's back in full training in two weeks if he's only doing light run throughs.

On a positive note, great to hear Henry was prominent today and back in full training. Seems we are relatively fit, fingers crossed for a good few weeks. Jan/Feb is vital and footy is right around the corner.

 

[SainterinSydney]

I'd be stunned if he's back in full training in two weeks if he's only doing light run throughs.

On a positive note, great to hear Henry was prominent today and back in full training. Seems we are relatively fit, fingers crossed for a good few weeks. Jan/Feb is vital and footy is right around the corner.

Henry is the cherry on top that will make the cake that ever so much tastier!

 

[stfan]

Actually Lenny locks in both King and Jsos by the end of the month for full training.

I think the comment was more that they should be back by the end of this month, but if not by early next month.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Bloody hell two acl's already this week, Jackson Archer and now Jesse Motlop. Fingers crossed the Saints get some luck on the injury front this year.

 

[saintmike65]

Love to hear that Jack Carroll continues to impress I really hope he locks down a half back role.

Can I ask what has been impressing you this summer with Carroll?

Is it his ball movement, run and carry, defensive work, foot skills?

Would love another elite user across half back.

He hasn't missed a session, provides run and carry, pace and penetrating kicking

 

[stavro#4]

Bloody hell two acl's already this week, Jackson Archer and now Jesse Motlop. Fingers crossed the Saints get some luck on the injury front this year.

 

[Ads734]

Reckon JC and Hunts are competing for a spot.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

In the match sim where was Henry playing, high half forward?

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Yeah, read the article and the headline seems to be entirely constructed around an unwillingness on Lenny's part on January 12 to commit to a player being in the team on March 8.

It's the media being thier same old selves.

 

[saintmike65]

In the match sim where was Henry playing, high half forward?

Correct

 

[Saintos The ITK]

For the track watchers.
Aside from injuries are there any players you are worried about?

 

[Train12]

If we can just get some luck with injuries this year!! Adelaide had no injuries last year!

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Max hall kicked a rip snorter and his delivery, disposal has just taken an another step up.

 

[beside the seaside]