Mason Wood has come out on top at this year’s pre-season time trial, with the tall forward one of several Saints to complete the three-kilometre run in under 10 minutes.

The second-year Saint crossed the line just ahead of endurance machine Bradley Hill after a gutsy push on the final straight, with Jack SinclairRyan ByrnesDan Butler and Jack Steele following in quick succession shortly afterward.

Hill – who finished just a couple of steps behind Wood – surpassed his target time, while also recording a time quicker than last year’s top-10 run.

Draftee Jack Peris similarly impressed after finishing inside this year’s top-10, while Zak Jones cracked into the group with a personal-best.

Ben LongDean KentTom Highmore, and Darragh Joyce were among the club’s most improved performers compared to the times from their previous time trial last January.

Over half of the playing group took part in the pre-season staple this morning, with a number of the Saints’ first-to-four-year players completing an additional run last fortnight.

“There are always a few nerves before any time trial, but the boys have all grabbed it with both hands and we’re really happy with everyone’s attitude towards it,” Head of High Performance and Conditioning Nick Walsh said.

“Both Mason Wood and Bradley Hill ran really well, young Jack Peris and Ryan Byrnes were impressive too and Jack Steele ran well; he’s been pretty consistent over the past number of years.

We all know a three-kilometre time trial is a physical thing, but there are also those mental components as well. It is a gruelling 10 minutes or so, and in that time frame you’re battling.

- Head of High Performance and Conditioning Nick Walsh

“Whether it’s someone running past you, trying to catch someone or the weather conditions, there are a lot of variables in a player’s mind, but everyone ran really well today.

“We’ve topped it off with some swimming, boxing and some bike sessions, so there is still a little bit of work to do pre-Christmas – and a lot of work to do during Christmas – so we can hit the ground running when we come back in January.”

St Kilda’s full squad returned to training on Monday and will break for Christmas on Saturday 18 December.

2022 pre-season time trial

  December 2021

1

Mason Wood

2

Bradley Hill

3

Jack Sinclair

4

Ryan Byrnes

5

Dan Butler

6

Jack Steele

7

Jack Peris
8 Jimmy Webster
9 Seb Ross
10 Zak Jones