Off-season acquisition Jake Carlisle has begun to regain the trust of the playing group through his work on the training track, according to recently re-signed Saint Jarryn Geary.

The marquee recruit landed at Seaford in controversial circumstances, but has put his best foot forward in the last few weeks, compiling a body of work at training, particularly at St Kilda’s recent pre-season training camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Despite Carlisle being mostly restricted to the rehabilitation group, Geary praised the former Bomber’s work ethic, suggesting he is doing everything in his power to earn the respect of the playing group.

“One thing you can definitely tell from the short time he's been here is he's got a great work ethic," Geary said.

“Jake joined in last week for a period of training, he was pretty excited and had to be held back because he thought they were just going to let him go out there and get straight into it. But he's been doing a mountain of work on the other oval, the one for rehab. 

“You look over and see him smashing himself on the boundary line and that's all he can do, he doesn't have to anything special, he's just got to work hard and when the time comes to pull on the jumper I'm sure he'll represent us well.

“He came [to the club] under those circumstances, but since then he's really worked hard so we're just looking forward to him pulling on the jumper. Obviously it will be a bit of a belated start but when he does I'm sure he'll play some good footy for the club.”

After 85 games at Essendon, Carlisle joined St Kilda during October’s trade period in exchange for pick No. 5 and No. 24, with selection No. 14 (Jade Gresham) coming back to the Linen House Centre as part of the deal.