Kanye West may want a few dates shuffled to suit his potential tour down under, but as far as St Kilda is concerned, its schedule isn’t budging as the club reaches less than 50 days before Round 1.
Muggy conditions and thunderclouds set the scene for this morning’s 18-on-18 match simulation at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, with both sides bolstered by members of VFL affiliate, Sandringham as well as assistant coaches Jake Batchelor and Jarryd Roughead.
The Saints suited up for three 18-minute blocks under the unusually still - but uncomfortably hot – bayside conditions, with only a handful of points separating the two by the end of the modified hitout.
Draftee Mitch Owens was a noticeable presence at centre bounces, lining up against captain Jack Steele at numerous stoppages. Owens, taken at pick No. 33 at last year’s National Draft, formed part of a midfield brigade of Zak Jones and Rowan Marshall, while Steele was flanked by Paddy Ryder, Brad Crouch and Ryan Byrnes.
Bradley Hill and Jack Sinclair provided plenty of ammunition and precise kicking off half-back, while Nick Coffield – who ticked all the right boxes this pre-season – was kept busy with his opponent, Jack Higgins (two goals).
Josh Battle was another to slot into the defensive line-up with Sinclair, Hill and Coffield. The versatile Saint, who suffered a bone stress ankle injury last season, was given the task of quelling Tim Membrey for almost the entirety of proceedings.
It left leaders Callum Wilkie and Dougal Howard to grapple Cooper Sharman and Max King respectively, and the opposing backline of Tom Highmore, Jimmy Webster and Darragh Joyce to handle Mason Wood, Max Heath and Ben Long.
Category B Rookie Josiah Kyle again showed glimpses through his forward pressure, which was again prominent despite copping several hard knocks.
Jade Gresham was one of a number of Saints to be on lighter duties throughout the morning, with Jack Billings, Seb Ross, Jarryn Geary, Dean Kent and draftee Marcus Windhager taking part in their own programs under the eye of Head of High Performance and Conditioning, Nick Walsh.
Dan Hannebery, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Leo Connolly, Tom Campbell, Jack Peris, Jack Bytel and Oscar Adams also completed their respective programs; all of which were made up of a series of gruelling running sessions around the oval. The full squad completed its own conditioning block immediately after match simulation.
St Kilda will face its first full test in an upcoming practice match against Carlton, with a preceding intra-club outing shaping as an ideal lead-in before the full opposition hitout.
