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Training Saints preseason 2026

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We are not paying Ryan for his pre season running, Sydney and Cartlon did not pay for Greg Williams pre season running.

We are paying Ryan because when sherrin hits hand and foot he will create scoring, we are paying Ryan because he can bring leadership to young players in a way that is not just training standards, we are paying Ryan because he can take the pressure of Higgins.

Not every bloke needs to be a cardio beast.
Why didn't someone mention earlier we were trading for Greg Williams?
 
...and has shown some Goddard-like talent by foot (on occasion) Expecting big things from him in the near future
I think that if either Boxshall or Philipou could reach their potential and become an elite big bodies bull, that would complete our midfield. Nas, Flanders, Garcia, Windhager, and one of Boxshall or Philipou covers all midfield bases of skill, X factor, extraction, defensive pressure and big bodies beast. That's not including rotation players like Hall, Henry, Wilson and Travalia. Pretty wild how much the shape of our future midfield has changed over 3-4 years.
 

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I thought Matty Parker had rejoined us for a secondS

I loved Matty Parker’s work.
best donuts possessions quarter i ever saw was from him vs the crows,tackled,lunged to save a goal,spoiled,was magnificent,was a first quarter
 
Training report 3-12-2025 New
Nice and warm today. Cant believe Banfield is a draftee. Already has a V shape. Nice shoulders good definition, can't fathom why WCE wouldn't take him.
Wood always one of the first out with the young blokes. Absolute great example.
Ryan comes out of gym, goes back in crying, saying the warm weather reminds him of Geralton, wants his teddy bear and needs a night light to survive in Melbourne. Coaxed out by NAZ, but has a cap on to hide his tears.
Clark the only one in rehab. No King, must be GONE.
Barratt in full group training. Same with Hastie.
Hammer in the gym, cant spot JSOS or TDK.
Was Hugo not Hammer, both out on track.
Stocker in rehab singlet walking the boundary. King in the gym,looking scared of the weights, settles for a hula hoop ( think the yo-yo was taken). Looks like the hula hoop was too heavy,puts it down, decides to come out on the ground. Obviously the gym has intimidated him.
That fine specimen RTB makes an appearance.
Drills starts with two groups repeat shuttle runs.
Next up repeat 50's.
TDK out, will go over for a look.
Boxshall to the pool. No Macrae.
TDK has skinny legs for a ruckman.
Dodson in the rehab group, good to see, big big lad.
Group breaks up into five, 4 boundary running, for two minutes 1 group 50 metre run throughs. Clark in main running group. 90 second break then at it again.
Hill and Ryan not running, obviously distressed about living in Melbourne.
Ainsworth running his guts out. TDK fairly high paced run throughs, Max a little slower, Dodson laps.
Max changes from runners to boots and some light kick to kick with TDK.
Main group now into boots.
TDK repeat receive and kick in the turn, will be in the main group very soon.
Two groups broken up into smaller groups of four doing ground ball get drills.
3 groups inside ball work combo to supporting player to another on the lead. Forwards supporting player shoots at goal.
Hard to tell standouts. Tauru really needs to work on his disposal. Has been sloppy every time I have seen him this preseason.
Groups swap positions. To ally fears Ryan doing lots of running in the drills.
TDK still doing ball drills, Max having shots on goal.
Ryan may not be an athelete, but he sure is a footballer. Beautiful clean hands off the deck, lovely kicking style.
Ainsworth trying his guts out. If he doesn't get picked up, not for the want of trying. Spoke too soon, Ainsworth straight into the medical room.
Groups swap, will keep an eye on Ryan down at the goals. Nobody is surprised to know he loves a shot at goal. Banfield has a big boot, moves so well. WTF WC?
Great to see Doogs in the thick of things.
Next drill full ground movement, to supporting player, tap down at chf, ground ball get to support who hits up the forward on the lead. Very slick ( with no opposition).
Ryan obviously reads BF, swaps boots for runners. Not part of ball drills
Next drill 3/4 field contactless match sim, yellow bibs, v training tops. When I say contactless, there is contact at the contest, just no tackling.
Wilks, Barratt, Doogs, Tauru LOC back for bibs. Carroll, Trav, Armstrong hbf for reds.
There is tackling but not full on.
Bib swap. Backs stay the same as previous.
Caroll continues to impress me. Ryan running hard putting in. Henry out running laps.
Lol Ryan says to the trainer, f*** that hurt, would rather be out there, pointing at the drills.
Fincher with two big tackles, the boys love it. Second one on Trav they pile on. Looks like they are having fun. Lots of outgoing characters in the group.
Ryan and Henry back to laps. Ryan may not be Wilson and he doesnt like the running, but is putting in as hard as possible.
Next drill, 10 minutes, two groups. Stoppage contested work. Row v Keels.
Other group far side, contested defensive work.
Hugo, Hall, Flanders, Pou, Keels bibs, NAZ, Dow, Wilson, Windy, Ronnie, Row, reds. Now boundary stoppage work. Great contest Windy v Flanders, Pou looks fit, hunting the ball.
Looks like running to finish off the session so
Adios amigos.
 
Training Report 3/12/2025 New
Was good to get down there today. Pretty much what Joffa said but I know people like hearing from a range of people lucky enough to get there

I was standing near the South Rd end goals with the master class being run by Sir Robert in one of the drills. Tight inside near the boundary line running the ball out with the attacking team having more numbers than the defenders (bibs) so working the ball from inside to out then the free players working to 30m out on 45 degree to straight in front of the goals with the last forward snapping for goal.

Windy stood out with his clean hands in his group (2nd) along with Wilson for his (i'd say elite) pressure on the forwards when he had the bib on. Harves called Wilson out for a "well done" about 5 times.

Trav, Ryan, Hill, Roma, Dougs, Mitch were in the 3rd group. Dougs really involved as was Mitch
.Mitch showing off with his bull Mitchy stuff.

I missed the 1st group as I was battling Ticketek for gather round tickets.

Some general observations.

Pou - trained and moved well. Hands very good. Kicking was rusty but not a surprise as has been easing into full training

Windy - Wowza. His ball handling improvement is outrageous. Can't recall a single fumble amongst all the drills where he had someone right on him. Then the strength through his core enabling him to get the ball out and hitting targets.

Wilson - I saw he wasn't in a top 50 under 23 list last week. Moorabbin is about a 30 min drive down the Higway from Southbank. Really not that far for some reporters to go take a look. He has strength and pace and now knows where to go get the ball. He's a beauty.

Dougs - A lock for the key defender post if he's fit and trains like that. Great vocal leadership. Very positive which I dont think has always been his case.

LOC - Trained really well. Will be fringe as just behind Stocker (if fit) and a bit ahead of Hastie.

Butts - Trained well i thought and ran hard so may not be as far behind the other small forwards as I thought.

First session so some numbers and bibs got me so I'll have to study up.

Finally. The last drill had Sir Lenny and Sir Robert running a midfielders masterclass. Lucky lucky young men. Lenny throwing the ball in from the boundary to RoMa and Keels. RoMa largely winning at the start but Keels worked his way into it. Mids paired up into a jumper and bib combo. Garcia and Windy going at it.

The thing that struck me most watching that drill though was the amount of talent amongst that group. Nas, Pou, Windy, Garcia, Hall, Wilson. All can win their own ball and then spread. We have come such a long way compared to this time a couple of years ago when I went down to watch pre Christmas training.

Got my gather round seats behind the hill goals too so was a very good morning.
 
You can blame my for reporting his running last week. Others made it a TED talk on the intricacies of first nations culture and diversity.
The self appointed blowhard, big noting experts concluded Ryan was a risk and he would be homesick in the big smoke compared to the medium smoke of Perth where he has lived for 10 years with no issues with homesickness.
All very weird. But what do you expect on here? Sense?

Ah yes, nothing like turning a simple observation into a symposium on cultural nuance and existential homesickness. I’m amazed anyone still expects logic to show up in these threads.
 
Was good to get down there today. Pretty much what Joffa said but I know people like hearing from a range of people lucky enough to get there

I was standing near the South Rd end goals with the master class being run by Sir Robert in one of the drills. Tight inside near the boundary line running the ball out with the attacking team having more numbers than the defenders (bibs) so working the ball from inside to out then the free players working to 30m out on 45 degree to straight in front of the goals with the last forward snapping for goal.

Windy stood out with his clean hands in his group (2nd) along with Wilson for his (i'd say elite) pressure on the forwards when he had the bib on. Harves called Wilson out for a "well done" about 5 times.

Trav, Ryan, Hill, Roma, Dougs, Mitch were in the 3rd group. Dougs really involved as was Mitch
.Mitch showing off with his bull Mitchy stuff.

I missed the 1st group as I was battling Ticketek for gather round tickets.

Some general observations.

Pou - trained and moved well. Hands very good. Kicking was rusty but not a surprise as has been easing into full training

Windy - Wowza. His ball handling improvement is outrageous. Can't recall a single fumble amongst all the drills where he had someone right on him. Then the strength through his core enabling him to get the ball out and hitting targets.

Wilson - I saw he wasn't in a top 50 under 23 list last week. Moorabbin is about a 30 min drive down the Higway from Southbank. Really not that far for some reporters to go take a look. He has strength and pace and now knows where to go get the ball. He's a beauty.

Dougs - A lock for the key defender post if he's fit and trains like that. Great vocal leadership. Very positive which I dont think has always been his case.

LOC - Trained really well. Will be fringe as just behind Stocker (if fit) and a bit ahead of Hastie.

Butts - Trained well i thought and ran hard so may not be as far behind the other small forwards as I thought.

First session so some numbers and bibs got me so I'll have to study up.

Finally. The last drill had Sir Lenny and Sir Robert running a midfielders masterclass. Lucky lucky young men. Lenny throwing the ball in from the boundary to RoMa and Keels. RoMa largely winning at the start but Keels worked his way into it. Mids paired up into a jumper and bib combo. Garcia and Windy going at it.

The thing that struck me most watching that drill though was the amount of talent amongst that group. Nas, Pou, Windy, Garcia, Hall, Wilson. All can win their own ball and then spread. We have come such a long way compared to this time a couple of years ago when I went down to watch pre Christmas training.

Got my gather round seats behind the hill goals too so was a very good morning.
A couple of seasons ago I picked Windy as the one who would from only being known by Saints supporters to the rest of the comp knowing exactly who he was.
This year I'm picking Wilson to be that player. His running has always been elite but know he's got some strength, belief and determination to go with it. I think he's going to be an absolute jet as early as this season.
 

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Just a remark on promising youngsters...

Pou doesn't have a natural position yet. We still the talent, but where will be play most of his footy? Remains to be seen.

OTOH, Wilson is a prototypical 2020s outside midfielder. He will make it, I have no doubt about that, because how he will make it is obvious.
 

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A noticeable difference this year is the height within the group.
We have 5 players 200cm+, with numerous 192+.
This will make a huge difference being able to compete in the air.
The drill that had Keeler competing with Ro in the ruck and mids paired to compete at ground level was an interesting watch which showed off the new depth options we now have.
Hally, Nas, Wilson, Dow, Flanders, Garcia etc. All involved.
Macrae and Boxshall can be added when fit.
 
A noticeable difference this year is the height within the group.
We have 5 players 200cm+, with numerous 192+.
This will make a huge difference being able to compete in the air.
The drill that had Keeler competing with Ro in the ruck and mids paired to compete at ground level was an interesting watch which showed off the new depth options we now have.
Hally, Nas, Wilson, Dow, Flanders, Garcia etc. All involved.
Macrae and Boxshall can be added when fit.
Big rehab group with King, TDK and Dodson in it today.
 
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Training Saints preseason 2026

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