The Saints have undergone a period of significant list upheaval since the reappointment of Ross Lyon at the conclusion of the 2022 season. A heavy draft focus characterised his first few seasons back at the helm. Still, in keeping with an aggressive, club-wide focus on recapturing relevance, the Saints pivoted to procuring established talent in the most recent off-season.
These signings signalled an internal belief that the storied club are ready for a genuine flag tilt in the immediate future. Is this the side prepared to break through and claim Lyon and the Saints an elusive premiership?
Here's the best 23 that might run out in the candy stripe guernsey in 2026…
Defenders
The Lyon-coached sides are in the habit of being miserly in defence, and this line, bolstered by the acquisition of a reinvented Jack Silvagni, will look to carry that mantle. The former Blue was a shining light for Carlton last season, when fit, and will look to carry that form to his new club.
Habitual All-Australian squad member Callum Wilkie is one of Lyon's most reliable magnets, and will only benefit from Silvagni's defection.
On the half-back line, running machines and classy distributors Brad Hill and Jack Sinclair will flank rising star Alix Tauru, who will be looking to build on an eye-catching first season.
The balance of archetypes in this backline promises to make scoring against the Saints a tall order, while prohibiting score launches from this zone will need to be a focus for opposing forwards.
