Training Saints preseason 2026

[The Jack]

Well, tongue in cheek yeah, but heard he was a north supporter

Every AFL player supported a team before being drafted. Long bow. I wouldn’t be too concerned.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Time is flying, as it always seems to at this time of year, only 68 days until our Opening Round Extravaganza at the 'G against the Pies.

Players break just about over, time to step it up!

View attachment 2503120

Give the Pies the slip

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Isn't he somehow related to the Galloping Gasometer?

Edit, Googled

"Wilson is no stranger to the football landscape, even having a familial connection to the red, white and black through his maternal great-uncle, Des Cole, who played eight games for the Saints between 1954 and 1955. The football pedigree also extends through his uncle Mick Nolan, a Premiership player for North Melbourne in 1973."

Building the muscle, got the hustle: How Wilson has grown to prime himself for the big time

New Saint Darcy Wilson is ready to get to work in his new colours, already finding an interesting parallel with another hard-running winger from the Murray Bushrangers, St Kilda cult figure Fraser Gehrig.

www.saints.com.au

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

'Cosmic Psycho's' playing at the Edge Hill tavern in Cairns on NYE.
Geezuz, they were playing around Melbourne in the 80's

 

[dudeintheswamp]

'Cosmic Psycho's' playing at the Edge Hill tavern in Cairns on NYE.
Geezuz, they were playing around Melbourne in the 80's

And they haven't changed a bit

 

[Mav3rick]

Question...which 2 of the players traded in do you think will have the biggest impact in 2026 and why!
Also, which 2 youngsters do you think will jump to another level and why!
Thirdly, which 2 established or fringe players can make a significant impact in 2026!
I don't expect replies today but whenever you have the opportunity I'm keen to hear from you.
In the meantime, merry Christmas to all the BF guys & ladies.

Boxshall and Hastie are the youngsters who will get significant opportunity for me if they can grab the opportunity with both hands. They have the size and athletic traits to make it too, just need more reps and for it to click and all start making sense. Hastie had some rough moments last year, but I thought both showed the type of poise in traffic that is pretty rare at that age.

 

[BrutThough]

How good seeing a new player be open about their leadership aspirations.

We need more leaders in that age bracket.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

How good seeing a new player be open about their leadership aspirations.

We need more leaders in that age bracket.

Yeah for some reason I thought he was much more of a bogan (possibly the pirate gay waiter photo ) but he speaks quite well.

 

[SG34]

Liam Henry could be cooked based on above. Hope not

And they haven't changed a bit

View attachment 2503147

The genesis of K-Pop and everything it stands for.

 

[gringo2011]

Obviously there’s been a lot of talk about the trade ins but if we’re going to get to contender status we need at least one more to make a Nas-like jump and get to his level, ideally in the midfield. At least one but probably two of Wilson, Phillipou or even Garcia need to breakout. Even with Flanders I see him as another Crouch which is extremely handy but there’s a ceiling on how far that kind of midfielder can take you, we’ll need more damaging guys around him.

I think it’s obviously way too early for guys like Tauru or Trav to get to that level. The other breakout options would be Owens and Hall as HF’s on a similar level to Brisbane’s.

Without anyone joining Nas’ level we might play finals a few times but we won’t be contending without breakout players IMO. The good news is I’m pretty confident that at least one of them will do it soon though.

Hall and Flanders both have elite potential. Garcia looks a high potential on baller, Phillipou, Wilson probably a bit more hybrid for now but both could be anything. We have so many kids with genuine growth now.

 

[gringo2011]

impact from traded players
1. Flanders
2. JSoS

Like Macrae last year, I'm expecting Flanders to have an immediate impact, He has more competition than Macrae had for a starting midfield spot, but nevertheless he should still make a big improvement on what we had last year.
Our defence currently revolves around Wilkie. Howard does a good job in negating the oppo giant forward, but his durability means he is unlikely to play 20 games next season. Caminiti is a break even at best back up, and Tauru while developing nicely, still needs another 12 months before being capable of being either the number 1 or 2 key defensive banana. How many times have you wished we had another Wilkie in the backline? JSoS (assuming he can stay on the park) can play a very similar role to Wilkie and we should see the defence tighten up considerably.

A lot of options for the 2 youngsters most likely to jump to the next level.
For me, that last game that Wilson played just showed the potential damage that the kid could inflict. No doubt he will have taken great belief from that so expect him to take the game on more and more.
Pou is the other obvious choice. He has put a few good games together, but he has played a lot of games where he has gone missing for almost the entire game. Except him to have less quiet patches and more consistently impact games.
Trav is the other that may well end next season as an automatic selection. With a back pocket and half back flank position up for grabs, i think he will have plenty of opportunities to become a permanent fixture in defence. Probably could make a similar case for Hastie, but I think Travs kicking has him slightly ahead.
Finally, a fully fit King not only has the ability to kick 4 goals a game, but also the potential to free up Marshall and Sharman to become one of the best marking forward units in the comp.
We just need a good run with injuries and could easily become one of the most watchable teams next season.

The biggest plus with Flanders is that he's a genuine multi position type. He can rotate off HBF or HF to feed others in. Macrae is an inside midfielder only.

 

[Ads734]

I have posted Darcy's stats vs Max Holme's a few times and he is still the player I think he can develop into. Ultimately, we know his best case attributes are a hard running, mid who can kick goals and does some great defensive stuff.

I think an underrated attribute of his is not just the goals but the type of goals he kicks. Call them cheating goals but its his running that gets him the easy goals into space close to goal.

 

[Ads734]

anyone know when trainig restarts.

 

[Jesuswasacarpenter]

Had the pleasure of chatting to John Longmire this arvo in Yarrawonga
We got taking about the Saints v Melbourne game, he said he was excited watching the last quarter.
He also mentioned he thought the saints were in for a big year next season.

 

[gringo2011]

I have posted Darcy's stats vs Max Holme's a few times and he is still the player I think he can develop into. Ultimately, we know his best case attributes are a hard running, mid who can kick goals and does some great defensive stuff.

I think an underrated attribute of his is not just the goals but the type of goals he kicks. Call them cheating goals but its his running that gets him the easy goals into space close to goal.

He's different but has elements of a few of those hard running types, has some Josh Kelly, Whitfield, Lauchie Ash, Bailey Smith, Brad Hill, Holmes etc.

Bailey Smith is probably an ideal model. Still runs like a maniac but a scoring threat and a get-out option for others.

 

[akaifu]

He's different but has elements of a few of those hard running types, has some Josh Kelly, Whitfield, Lauchie Ash, Bailey Smith, Brad Hill, Holmes etc.

Bailey Smith is probably an ideal model. Still runs like a maniac but a scoring threat and a get-out option for others.

Smith is my comparison for Wilson too. Neither are the best kicks but both can be absolutely elite with their running ability

Smith started his career out on a wing/HF role too. It’s a pretty similar trajectory

It’s a big call but I think NWM + Wilson has the potential to be the better partnership than Smith + Holmes

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

I think an underrated attribute of his is not just the goals but the type of goals he kicks. Call them cheating goals but its his running that gets him the easy goals into space close to goal.

It's also the intellegence and ability to read the play, find the gaps in the defensive zone.

 

[Nutsngum]

Smith is my comparison for Wilson too. Neither are the best kicks but both can be absolutely elite with their running ability

Smith started his career out on a wing/HF role too. It’s a pretty similar trajectory

It’s a big call but I think NWM + Wilson has the potential to be the better partnership than Smith + Holmes

Good comparison. Wilson is a better kick then Smith though thankfully

 

[g_TRAIN]

Good comparison. Wilson is a better kick then Smith though thankfully

He is.

And Wilsons kicking when he was in the VFL and had a bit more time and space looked totally fine.

I think with more confidence, a body that can accept and deal with physical pressure + more composure he will translate that to AFL soon.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Obviously is this years tooth suck which took over from y’know.
Couldn’t believe it when Flanders threw in a tooth suck for ole times sake.
Go Saints.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Actually I think the tooth suck if not invented by Luke Dunstan

27

Luke Dunstan

Age

30

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.7

5star

K

10.1

4star

HB

10.6

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

4.8

5star

CL

4.4

5star

D

21.0

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

8.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

9.0

5star

CL

2.0

4star

D

18.2

5star

K

6.0

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

2.4

3star

T

6.2

5star

CL

4.2

5star

was most certainly perfected by him.

 

[SainterinSydney]

From FB

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Smith is my comparison for Wilson too. Neither are the best kicks but both can be absolutely elite with their running ability

Smith started his career out on a wing/HF role too. It’s a pretty similar trajectory

It’s a big call but I think NWM + Wilson has the potential to be the better partnership than Smith + Holmes

I don't really agree with the Smith comparison. Smith has Wilson well and truly covered for disposals and clearances over their respective first seasons. Smith has always been a big accumulator and has largely played mid throughout his career. He isn't necessarily the player winning it at ground level all the time but he is the one bursting out of congestion and roosting it forward.

Wilson more strikes me as someone who will sprint out into open space and beat opposition on the spread (plus work extremely hard to present the opposition from doing that to us).

 

[gringo2011]

I don't really agree with the Smith comparison. Smith has Wilson well and truly covered for disposals and clearances over their respective first seasons. Smith has always been a big accumulator and has largely played mid throughout his career. He isn't necessarily the player winning it at ground level all the time but he is the one bursting out of congestion and roosting it forward.

Wilson more strikes me as someone who will sprint out into open space and beat opposition on the spread (plus work extremely hard to present the opposition from doing that to us).

Not many that have the combination of physical build and run together. You are having to project and not suggesting they are tracking identically. Once he moves to a more midfield role his numbers will increase too. Bits of Wilson's play definitely resemble Smith's.

 

[kosifantutti]

From FB

View attachment 2503455

43 minute last quarter?
Or is that allowing time to pause and get drinks?