Training Saints preseason 2026

[Ads734]

Tauru is not playing VFL. I have no idea why soo many on here have that weird idea. He's a future superstar of the club who already more than carries his weight. He is not playing 2s.

Couldn't agree more, not many guys can turn the momentum like he can with a moment

 

[pebblesofsand]

Mitch Owens has been training as anyone would expect constantly beating oppoenents who are bigger then him.

However, unless we see some improved set shot kicking imo his cieling is limited OR we start to actually allow him to play on the ball.

I just feel we underutilise him.

Yep.

No longer needed as a second ruck so he should get more actual midfield minutes

 

[gringo2011]

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a reasonable ceiling on a player. Not all of our kids can become A graders. We've been lucky enough to see one of our players take the step from gun to freak. That doesn't happen too often.

The team is going to have a lot of players that fall into the 'B grader' category even if we end up one of the better teams. And that's ok. Timmy Membrey was never an 'A' grader, but still had a fantastic career. Same with JWebb.

I think Mitch has a fantastic set of attributes that will set him apart from others, and make him a serious problem for opposition coaches. Most likely up forward. I think his kicking and decision making will probably hold him back from getting to that next level. But he can still absolutely play 200 games + for St Kilda, and I hope he does.

Aaron Hamill was probably the closest player that I could compare to Owens. Bullocking solid mid sized power forward with a strong lead up game, good on the ground and in tight. Like Mitch he was an ordinary set shot but could pull freak goals out of nowhere too. It's not hard to imagine that he could easily end up that sort of level.

 

[gringo2011]

I hope they all play.

I hope they don't and we get a big win.

 

[gringo2011]

His kicking action has to improve, hopefully it's been his no.1 focus. He is capable of taking spectacular marks but if he can't finish his hard work then he will never truly elevate his game. I have the least confidence in his set shot in the entire team, and he was basically our no.1 forward last year. We've seen other players fix it, so I am optimistic!

Year 4 Jack Higgins cracked 20 goals for the first time with 27.16. Mitch kicked 26.16 in his second year. Mitch kicked 25.16 again last year.

Year 8 and Higgo has just had his most accurate season by a huge margin nailing 46.17.

 

[gringo2011]

Tauru is not playing VFL. I have no idea why soo many on here have that weird idea. He's a future superstar of the club who already more than carries his weight. He is not playing 2s.

Well he very well could. We are expected to play finals this year. There will be less development opportunities available in the seniors. A lot of good players are going to be in and out of the side if we get a decent injury run.

 

[BrutThough]

Tauru is not playing VFL. I have no idea why soo many on here have that weird idea. He's a future superstar of the club who already more than carries his weight. He is not playing 2s.

As much as we all love Tauru, I dont think it's accurate to say he "already more than carries his weight"

He was very much a development prospect last year who make multiple goal costing mistakes in games. There were multiple times Wilkie would scream at him to stop him making dumb or reckless decisions on where he kicked it because he was about to put us in a bad position. That didnt matter because we were no good and out of finals contention. But that shouldn't be tolerated the same this year when we expect to be better. So he will need to show improvement defensively and with his decision making to be a lock every week.

And it's okay if he doesnt or if he needs to go back to the VFL to work on some things in his game. He's still a teenager and he's got plenty of time to fix those things in his game. But as a supporter base, we need to move past the mindset that a talented kid is untouchable and has to play no matter what.

 

[AirWinmar]

Perhaps your right maybe I have this weird thought re Isaac that the club could delist after this year if he doesn’t come on.

Like I rate Isaac as highly as anyone but I’m concerned he may not get the games he needs to develop and show his potential.

On pure potential, he probably is in the top 5 of that list imo. Whether he can get close to his full potential is another story, but he's developing well. If he does, will be huge for us

I dont want to think about list cuts at end of season - we have less and less players that are obvious cuts

 

[Ads734]

On pure potential, he probably is in the top 5 of that list imo. Whether he can get close to his full potential is another story, but he's developing well. If he does, will be huge for us

I dont want to think about list cuts at end of season - we have less and less players that are obvious cuts

Fair play. I think with Isaac compared to say Pou who you know will do whatever is in his power to get there Isaac is still working it out.

You are right though for a guy his size his kicking on his opposite foot is as good as I’ve ever seen.

 

[Ricmel]

Year 4 Jack Higgins cracked 20 goals for the first time with 27.16. Mitch kicked 26.16 in his second year. Mitch kicked 25.16 again last year.

Year 8 and Higgo has just had his most accurate season by a huge margin nailing 46.17.

Completely different players. Higgins misses cos many of his opportunities are quick snaps or round the corners (especially early in his career). As a percentage of his shots for goal, Owen has far more set shots and he is one of the worst we have seen in a while. There are a lot of OOFs and fall shorts not accounted for in goal/points stats. Unless he changes his kicking action I doubt there will ever be a time that Saints supporters will be confident in Mitch from outside 10 metres.

 

[Train12]

Completely different players. Higgins misses cos many of his opportunities are quick snaps or round the corners (especially early in his career). As a percentage of his shots for goal, Owen has far more set shots and he is one of the worst we have seen in a while. There are a lot of OOFs and fall shorts not accounted for in goal/points stats. Unless he changes his kicking action I doubt there will ever be a time that Saints supporters will be confident in Mitch from outside 10 metres.

Higgins snaps a lot because of his lack of confidence in kicking a drop punt.

He and Owen’s both kicking drop punts - flip a coin if it’s a goal.

 

[The Punter]

Higgins kicked 46.17 last year. Keep snapping son.

 

[stavro#4]

You know, it’s the small things I really enjoy these days. Like the ground set up ready for the boys to get to work 30 minutes before training is meant to get underway.

A few years ago they were dribbling goals for 60 minutes and kicking the balls in bins

 

[The_Steadier]

As much as we all love Tauru, I dont think it's accurate to say he "already more than carries his weight"

He was very much a development prospect last year who make multiple goal costing mistakes in games. There were multiple times Wilkie would scream at him to stop him making dumb or reckless decisions on where he kicked it because he was about to put us in a bad position. That didnt matter because we were no good and out of finals contention. But that shouldn't be tolerated the same this year when we expect to be better. So he will need to show improvement defensively and with his decision making to be a lock every week.

And it's okay if he doesnt or if he needs to go back to the VFL to work on some things in his game. He's still a teenager and he's got plenty of time to fix those things in his game. But as a supporter base, we need to move past the mindset that a talented kid is untouchable and has to play no matter what.

Yep.
If we have a fit list (inc king)- caminiti, howard and jsos down back relegate him to the magoos.

Lucky for alix- jsos, howard and king are held together with sticky tape, so there will be no shortage of opportunities to play.

 

[stavro#4]

Yep.
If we have a fit list (inc king)- caminiti, howard and jsos down back relegate him to the magoos.

Lucky for alix- jsos, howard and king are held together with sticky tape, so there will be no shortage of opportunities to play.

Hm.

Ross has been big on the aerial battle.

Tauru has that over all of them.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

I hope they don't and we get a big win.

So does my nan

 

[stavro#4]

King Clark Dodson & Howard + one other who I’m not sure of yet. In the rehab group far side.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

King Clark Dodson & Howard + one other who I’m not sure of yet. In the rehab group far side.

Any idea when some simulation might start?

 

[stavro#4]

For comparison of Sheer size, King makes Howard and Dodson look small. He has put on a lot of size in the last 18 months.

King is also moving well in straight and cross body movements.

 

[SainterinSydney]

I hope they all play.

If we don't smash them--sack the board!

 

[stavro#4]

Any idea when some simulation might start?

Maybe 15 mate. Only 8 boys on the track so far.

 

[stavro#4]

Wood the other player in rehab.

 

[stavro#4]

So you have an idea what I’m referring to in size. King looks physically dominant.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

For comparison of Sheer size, King makes Howard and Dodson look small. He has put on a lot of size in the last 18 months.

King is also moving well in straight and cross body movements.

Send pics.

Maybe some of the players too

 

[SainterinSydney]

So you have an idea what I’m referring to in size. King looks physically dominant. View attachment 2518130

And Dougal is definitely not a slight guy! Maxy may now be able to simply gorilla defenders without having to rely on pack marking.