St Kilda Saints star midfielder Jack Macrae exited the club's training early on Wednesday while top recruit Tom De Koning was absent from the session as the elite ruck continues to manage his recent calf injury.
Macrae began the day with the main group but split off to complete some light running before the group began its match sim, joining Mattaes Phillipou, Hunter Clark and Liam Henry on the sideline.
Similar to Macrae, Henry began the day's session with the main group but returned to individual drills for the latter half, focusing on agility and explosiveness.
De Koning going unsighted is not a surprise, however, given his calf strain suffered last month.
Under the blistering sun of the hottest day of December thus far, the Saints toiled away at Moorabbin Oval in high-intensity drills and eventually a stylised match sim, focusing on clearance and contested work from stoppages.
The key theme of the day was “standards”, vocalised frequently by coaches and players. Phillipou was most vocal in his fourth pre-season, despite spending much of the session away from the main group, clearly itching to get back to full strength and be a part of their build toward the 2026 season.
The 20-year-old completed a series of running and stretching patterns away from the group to start the day before rejoining the midfielders for skills. He was banned from participating in any contact drills, with only Hunter Clark completing a drill on a tackling bag away from the main group, as Phillipou worked on his ground ball skills at a lower intensity.
A number of fresh faces stood out in the hour of 18v18 work, most notably former Gold Coast Sun Sam Flanders. He opened the practice with a bursting goal out of the centre square, demonstrating his inside midfield capabilities he had been starved of in the Sunshine State.
Flanders was one of the more vocal players afield, and has evidently been quickly appreciated by his teammates, swarmed by many of them after opening the match sim with the aforementioned goal.
Additionally, premiership Eagle Liam Ryan impressed, though looked a touch off the pace at times off the ball. However, with the Sherrin in hand, Ryan set up several inside 50s from his high half-forward role.
De Koning's absence meant young tall Isaac Keeler was involved in the rucking duties against Rowan Marshall. Keeler contested the 2024 All-Australian squad member strongly, though ultimately the wantaway Saint's class outmatched Keeler's best efforts for most of the morning.
Unsurprisingly, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera starred in contested drills with the midfield, further indicating his likely permanent role in the engine room in 2026.
Tobie Travaglia, Mitch Owens and Darcy Wilson were quick to take to the oval on Wednesday morning, warming up well before the 10am start time. Travaglia in particular looked strong by foot in the opening drills, rarely missing a lead-up target.
Patrick Said's play also made an impression during the forwards drills, and he stepped up in the match sim with a goal.
St Kilda open their 2026 season at the MCG against Collingwood on Sunday, March 8.
