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…
Midfielders
Across the centreline, Lyon has more running weapons at his disposal. Darcy Wilson has showcased one of the league's best motors since his debut, and will be pushing to become a more prominent part of the Saints' on-ball brigade in year three. On the opposite wing, the veteran presence of Mason Wood will be a steadying influence.
Jack Macrae showed his days as one of the league's best accumulators are not behind him last season, and will look to again feed his array of outside runners, after averaging over 12 contested possessions per game for just the fourth time in 2025.
The most significant investment in the AFL has gone into the Saints' engine room, with the league's two highest-paid players representing the red, white and black at centre bounce. Fresh from a year in which he took the league by storm, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera signed a two-year deal to stay at Moorabbin that will make him the AFL's first $2 million man.
Providing the prodigious South Australian silver service will be Tom De Koning, who, like Silvagni, traded the navy blue for the black, white and red in the recent player movement period. The versatile ruckman suffered somewhat of a down year in 2025, admitting contract speculation weighed heavily on his performance, but will look to bounce back, justifying the faith shown in him by his boyhood club.
The Saints also sent Pick 7 to the Gold Coast Suns in exchange for the services of Sam Flanders, who will see his desire to play in the midfield again met after falling out of the rotation under Damien Hardwick.
Expect Marcus Windhager, one of the league's best taggers, to feature, adding a degree of defensive accountability to a midfield stacked with offensive talent. The X-factor of the ever-improving Mattaes Phillipou should also see him granted plenty of opportunity to flourish.
Young midfielder Hugo Garcia responded well to an infamous Lyon spray last season, and is sure to be given more opportunities to develop, too.
