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St Kilda key forward Tim Membrey is four kilograms lighter, fitter, has not missed a session yet in pre-season and, most compellingly, is in a good frame of mind about returning to football as he blossoms after withdrawing from his club\u2019s elimination final, according to coach Ross Lyon.<\/p>\n
The Saints missed Membrey, not only for the knock-out match against GWS, but for much of the season, a blow compounded by the shoulder injury that kept Max King sidelined for the second half of 2023.<\/p>\n
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St Kilda\u2019s Tim Membrey is on the comeback trail after an interrupted 2023.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Although Lyon believes his club is building around a new generation of young talent, he expects the return of the two key forwards will provide the biggest difference for the Saints next season.<\/p>\n Membrey was a shock withdrawal from the Saints\u2019 elimination final team after becoming mentally overwhelmed and seeking the care of doctors.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in really good shape; he\u2019s blossoming, he feels good, and he\u2019s got a lot of support,\u201d Lyon said on Wednesday at Moorabbin.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s the beauty, and there\u2019s no stigma (from pulling out of the game). It\u2019s more complicated than it just seems, so we\u2019re thrilled with where he\u2019s at.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s four kilos lighter and back to his fighting weight, so to speak, with what he\u2019s been in previous years. We\u2019re really expecting that he can deliver … he\u2019s been a real leader here for a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cOur two power forwards (Membrey and King) basically didn\u2019t play (last season), so I think (Anthony) Caminiti and (Mitch) Owens will look forward to playing with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyon is bullish about the Saints prospects in 2024, with experience campaigners expected to be available.<\/p>\n \u201cLast season there was really no (Zak) Jones, no Membrey, what Max (King) did off no work was incredible; [he] basically played 10 games, kicked 33 goals. So we think there is some real upside in those guys, and we expect our younger players to continue to improve. (Marcus) Windhager really found his spot at half-back last year. We want to build around them.\u201d<\/p>\n Max King looms as a potential finals match-winner for the Saints.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AFL Photos<\/cite><\/p>\n However, neither Membrey nor King trained at Moorabbin on Wednesday. They joined a rehab or management group of more than a dozen players.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you get older you get (a bit of) wear and tear, so (Membrey\u2019s) managed today, but he basically hasn\u2019t missed a session,\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n King, meanwhile, is still patiently building towards full training after his shoulder surgery. He played just 11 games last season, and had three separate shoulder surgeries within a year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe surgeon was pretty conservative, and he (King) didn\u2019t run for seven weeks (post-surgery), but he\u2019s really up and moving now,\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n Ross Lyon with his former player Brendon Goddard, now St Kilda\u2019s assistant coach.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AAP<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s certainly had no hiccups, and if you think first session last year he dislocated the shoulder and went in for the [operation].<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s miles ahead, and he\u2019ll be in full training post-Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyon said the off-season had provided a rare opportunity to significantly recast Saints\u2019 playing list with a large batch of top-end players from the draft.<\/p>\n \u201cWe feel we are shaping the list around (Mitch) Owens, Windhager, (Nasiah) Wangeneen-Milera, Caminiti and (Mattaes) Phillipou. If you go over history \u2013 six to 10 years \u2013 a batch of five or six like this has not come in for a while. We had four picks inside [the top] 40 and three in the first two rounds and that hasn\u2019t been done. You need those quality picks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have not been gifted anything \u2013 not to give anyone a clip \u2013 but you have to create your own opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a running game. The rules have sped the game up, the ball is flowing and moving. We did want some more speed, so all the kids we drafted were [able to run 20 metres in] sub-three seconds, and we love speed endurance, and they are all good at endurance.<\/p>\n \u201c(Liam) Henry and (Paddy) Dow have speed and power. (Riley) Bonner has run and kick, and [is] just out of a top four club (Port Adelaide) well coached by Kenny (Hinkley).<\/p>\n \u201cDarcy Wilson has been blowing the running apart, so we expect him to play a fair bit of footy like Mattaes (Phillipou).\u201d<\/p>\n The Saints knew Wilson was an elite runner, but have been stunned to see just how good he is, and the way the draftee has already dominated trial runs with his speed and endurance.<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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