Training Saints preseason 2026

[SaintsofSteel]

I just had a look at the VFL highlights, I didnt realise they played last night. Frankston jumped out early and took a big lead but the Saints wittled it back to go down by 8 points. Not a bad result against last years prelim side.

We didnt have a lot of Saints listed players out there but going by stats Angus Hastie had a really good night with 30 disposals & 9 marks, Patrick Said must have been used through the midfield and had 20 & 10 tackles, Barrat had 17 and 7 marks probably his most productive game.

Jayden Davey (ex Essendon) looks to be a lively small forward pick up kicking 5.

 

[saintmike65]

I know it's early days but as a frequent preseason poster and training watcher I'd like to apologise for the false optimism i may have created.
Like other watchers i was seduced by certain players, not just the new ones.
We're still a side lacking skill, footy IQ and finishing.
I will be more circumspect in future when giving training reports.

 

[Sir Owens]

I know it's early days but as a frequent preseason poster and training watcher I'd like to apologise for the false optimism i may have created.
Like other watchers i was seduced by certain players, not just the new ones.
We're still a side lacking skill, footy IQ and finishing.
I will be more circumspect in future when giving training reports.

Don't be sorry. That was the best few months I've had as a Saints supporter in a long time.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

I know it's early days but as a frequent preseason poster and training watcher I'd like to apologise for the false optimism i may have created.
Like other watchers i was seduced by certain players, not just the new ones.
We're still a side lacking skill, footy IQ and finishing.
I will be more circumspect in future when giving training reports.

I think I’ve worked out where you’re going wrong

 

[mad-saint-guy]

I know it's early days but as a frequent preseason poster and training watcher I'd like to apologise for the false optimism i may have created.
Like other watchers i was seduced by certain players, not just the new ones.
We're still a side lacking skill, footy IQ and finishing.
I will be more circumspect in future when giving training reports.

I appreciate the honest reassessment. Some are refusing to believe the reality of what we are seeing.

 

[SainterinSydney]

I know it's early days but as a frequent preseason poster and training watcher I'd like to apologise for the false optimism i may have created.
Like other watchers i was seduced by certain players, not just the new ones.
We're still a side lacking skill, footy IQ and finishing.
I will be more circumspect in future when giving training reports.

I definitely didn't expect us winning the flag this year, but I expect us to make finals with our inclusions.

Do you think the above observations by you are due to us still being young or we are going to be stuck in no mans land?

 

[saintmike65]

I definitely didn't expect us winning the flag this year, but I expect us to make finals with our inclusions.

Do you think the above observations by you are due to us still being young or we are going to be stuck in no mans land?

I think the 4 inclusions, whilst helping, may have only taken us from an ordinary team to an average team.
We MUST start prioritizing foot skills and decent footy IQ when recruiting

 

[gringo2011]

I definitely didn't expect us winning the flag this year, but I expect us to make finals with our inclusions.

Do you think the above observations by you are due to us still being young or we are going to be stuck in no mans land?

The difference now is that we have a lot of partially developed young talent. Sides like Adelaide, Freo and Brisbane were ordinary until they started to get a pay off from developing kids. When a group of youth come through together and a bunch end up paying off you get a really rapid climb. I am still very bullish about our build. It will come at some point barring disaster.

It's possible that we storm home or go on a run at some point once we have a full list and a bit more cohesion. I feel like we need an easy kill to get the taste of blood going. Hopefully Port don't show up and it starts the surge.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Considering the build-up to last week's game, can't help but wonder what it might have done for the team had Nas kicked that goal from the TDK tap at the opening bounce. Ah well.

Think you're right though Gringo, it will click at some point, just a little more patience required.

 

[Now is the time]

The difference now is that we have a lot of partially developed young talent. Sides like Adelaide, Freo and Brisbane were ordinary until they started to get a pay off from developing kids. When a group of youth come through together and a bunch end up paying off you get a really rapid climb. I am still very bullish about our build. It will come at some point barring disaster.

It's possible that we storm home or go on a run at some point once we have a full list and a bit more cohesion. I feel like we need an easy kill to get the taste of blood going. Hopefully Port don't show up and it starts the surge.

I am of the opinion that the players focussed on during pre-season missed the point by concentrating on the likes of Banfield instead of focussing on the improvement the recruiting of 4 established players would make both in regards class and structure - and the recovery of players central to our best 23 impacted by injury.

As of today, Howard returned last week, Macrae, King, Clark and Henry near returns.

And I think our best 23 is competitive - so being in every match.

Under this 23 as I would select them, we have the 3 players from Carlton who we signed for depth (so Dow, Stocker and Carroll) plus we have some experience in Wood and Byrnes, who are both more than adequate at the level.

Then a bunch of kids in the early stages of development - and where we have fingers crossed (as does every Club).

The measure will come when we have an injury free run - and that Macrae, King, Clark and Henry return.

So our bottom 4 drop out, replaced by players close to our top selections.

And in regard any of these kids banging the door down, well, if they demand selection they are going to be supported by some pretty fair talent in regards class and the structure of the side.

As an aside, I include Keeler on the bench in my "best 23" because of his versatility and the ability for a mis-match.

But not Garcia because I cannot fit him in - and ditto Caminiti.

What I also look at is the age demographic and more experienced players over 30 years of age. So, who is coming up to replace them starting with Hill, Sinclair, Wilkie, Marshall and Howard?

Who are presenting as the heir apparats?

Trusting that all go on for a few years yet.

 

[Palantine]

I know it's early days but as a frequent preseason poster and training watcher I'd like to apologise for the false optimism i may have created.
Like other watchers i was seduced by certain players, not just the new ones.
We're still a side lacking skill, footy IQ and finishing.
I will be more circumspect in future when giving training reports.

No you wont and you shouldn’t. It’s the best time of year and we all do it. You have to learn to stop worrying and learn to love the seduction.

 

[AirWinmar]

I know it's early days but as a frequent preseason poster and training watcher I'd like to apologise for the false optimism i may have created.
Like other watchers i was seduced by certain players, not just the new ones.
We're still a side lacking skill, footy IQ and finishing.
I will be more circumspect in future when giving training reports.

You see what you see mate, and a lot of the younger guys look to have taken a step up. We could easily be 3-1 if not for some horrific mistakes. Also experienced players like Wood, Marshall and Macrae have been down on form and Naz not as prolific yet as he was back of last season. Flanders has been ok, but based of training his disposal in the real stuff has been underwhelming.

 

[stfan]

Considering the build-up to last week's game, can't help but wonder what it might have done for the team had Nas kicked that goal from the TDK tap at the opening bounce. Ah well.

Think you're right though Gringo, it will click at some point, just a little more patience required.

If we had played Round 1 on our actual home game we probably would have won as we looked overawed at the G in fronto the big crowd.


On the "clicking at some point", I hope you are correct but I do have my concerns as we at present lack:

1/ at least one big forward. Hopefully that will be King.

2/ a gun mid.

Nas is struggling at present on being tagged, and a key focus of the opposition. However he needs a true Gun mid.

Flanders look handy, but gun he is not.

Pou touted by many simply has not stepped up and seems too fixated on doing things that look spectacular, rather than being effective. I am still unsure what his best role will be. And at present he certainly is not projected thst he will be a star player.

3/ we need more youth to step up to higher levels. And they may, but at present we are not getting enough out of them.

Our early picks on the whole are outperformed by many other clubs after taking account of where they were taken. Now you should never look at just any one player. But our first round picks as a group are currently unders.

4/ The part of our recruiting that shines has been our late picks, rookies and msd where are outperforming.

Our recruits from other clubs in the offseason as a group improve is, but they do not move the dial a lot. As above we more from our younger players.

5/ On recruiting we have favoured athletes over footballers too much.

Nas was selected due to his sublime ball use. He is an outlier of footballer first.


On the preseason form. The main problem with preaseson is that the players are only competing within the club, so the standard is less than the best 23s of other clubs. And in our preaseon the players are all doing known drills. In the season, the opposition are not as obliging.

Compared to the best teams our decision making and ballskills are dreadful.

Taur was lauded due to his leap and attack on the ball where he looks elite, but with ball in hand at present he is a deer in the headlights. If you main contribution is taking speccies, then that is not enough.