Saints Track Watch: SSP Surprise, Young Prospects Eye Early AFL Spots

Saints dealt numerous injury blows | 00:39

Ross Lyon’s St Kilda side is poised to unveil several young guns in their match simulation hit-out against Carlton this Saturday.

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With injured senior players Rowan Marshall (pelvis), Jack Sinclair (hamstring), and Mason Wood (quad) training separately from the main group alongside first-year player Alix Tauru (back), their teammates went through their paces ahead of the Saints’ first unofficial match of 2025.

Max King, nursing a knee injury amid his own race to be fit for Round 1, wasn’t running with this group on an overcast Thursday.

In Marshall’s absence, recent Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) signing Harry Boyd impressed during stoppage work at RSEA Park. The 26-year-old’s strength in contested situations remains one of his greatest assets, as he pushes for a Round 1 debut against Adelaide.

Crumbing off Boyd during early midfield drills were young guns Hugo Garcia and Hugh Boxshall; the latter taken with Pick #45 in last year’s draft. With injuries to several key players, including Mattaes Phillipou and Dougal Howard, Saints fans can expect greater opportunities for their emerging brigade against Carlton at IKON Park.

While Lyon is confident Marshall will “definitely” play in the Saints’ season opener against Adelaide on March 16, Boyd appears to be quickly firming as a solid contingency option.

Another player still some way from returning is former Dockers speedster Liam Henry, who continues his transition back into full training after cartilage damage to his knee ended his 2024 season prematurely.

And while his gradual ramp-up continues, the zippy livewire rotated through midfield drills at Moorabbin on Thursday in a positive sign that his rehabilitation is progressing well.

Small forward Jack Higgins looked sharp both physically and aerobically throughout training, while Arie Schoenmaker’s kicking was pinpoint in multiple drills under the watchful eye of Lyon.

The Saints and Blues’ unofficial clash kicks off at 11am on Saturday at RSEA Park, with the teams set to play four 20-minute quarters with time on, mirroring a standard home-and-away match.

St Kilda’s Round 1 trip to South Australia is followed by opening month meetings with Geelong, Richmond and Port Adelaide.