St Kilda track watch: Mattaes Phillipou and SSP recruit Harry Boyd star in match sim

Rowan Marshall sat out St Kilda’s match-simulation session on Friday, leaving Harry Boyd to make his mark – and his brilliant work with a young midfielder could be a sign of things to come.

Third-year Saint Mattaes Phillipou showed track watchers why he is regarded as one of the league’s top breakout candidates with an impressive display during match simulation.

Rarely removed from the centre square, Phillipou had the ball on a string during Friday’s session, bursting away from the contest and feeding his forwards by foot.

He also pushed forward and looked dangerous near goal, using his powerful frame to break away from would be defenders.

Phillipou spent time in the VFL last year after an impressive debut season, at times struggling to find a role in the senior side.

But the 20-year-old looks set to feature heavily alongside captain Jack Steele and recruit Jack Macrae in the centre square in 2025.

Mattaes Phillipou starred during match sim on Friday. Picture: Mark Stewart

Rowan Marshall did not train, giving fans an unencumbered view of new recruit Harry Boyd.

The former SANFL star formally signed this week with St Kilda and played as the No.1 ruck in Friday’s match simulation.

While the black team was clearly stronger, coach Ross Lyon was happy to interchange players to provide different looks to the contest.

Lyon had Steele and Macrae go head to head, with the pair of midfielders swapping teams halfway through the contest.

Callum Wilkie spent time playing on Max King and Mitch Owens, while Jack Sinclair was bounding off half back alongside Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

Arie Schoenmaker and James Barrat played key defensive roles for the weaker side, but both provided highlights down back.

Harry Boyd and Max Heath go head-to-head at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

RUCK AROUND

With Rowan Marshall unsighted during training, the newest Saint duelled with a rotating cast of rucks.

Boyd performed strongly against Alex Dodson, Max Heath and Cooper Sharman, who all spent time grappling with the SSP signing.

Boyd is tipped for major ruck duties from the start of the season, with a growing expectation that Marshall will play major minutes forward of the ball.

MIDFIELD REBUILD

St Kilda’s long-time search for midfield firepower has long been documented, but a rival club’s loss looks to be the Saints’ gain.

Macrae, who left the Western Bulldogs in the trade period after struggling to feature in 2024, was prominent in the match simulation work alongside captain Steele and Phillipou.

His trademark clean hands were evident in the contest, feeding the ball to runners waiting outside.

Phillipou continues to fill out his frame and the third-year gun was almost exclusively in the midfield, while also showing strength above his head in several marking contests.

He showed some dash out of the contest, but his ball use by foot was a highlight.

Darcy Wilson has declared he wants to feature in centre bounces this season, and while he was prominent in the midfield it was mainly on the wing.

Tobie Travaglia battled on a wing with Brad Hill and had some nice moments, showing dash that belies his big frame.

However the top-10 draftee got caught out by the experience of Hill at times, who set up multiple first-quarter goals in the match simulation.

St Kilda draftees Alix Tauru and Tobie Travaglia. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

REHAB GROUP

First-round draftee Alix Tauru spent the session running on the far wing, away from teammates.

It was promising signs for Tauru, who has been limited to work inside the rehab rooms at RSEA Park since the Saints spent the No.10 pick on the talented swingman.

Having been drafted with stress fractures in his back, Tauru is not expected to be rushed into action, with the club buoyant about his raw potential.

Hunter Clark spent time running laps with Tauru as the injury-riddled defender manages his summer loads.

Speedster Liam Henry showed great signs in his return from his ACL injury, running laps and completing sprint work during the session.

He was joined by Lance Collard for much of his running session, but Rowan Marshall and Paddy Dow were unsighted.

Dow suffered concerning complications from knee surgery after infection caused him to spend three weeks in hospital, with the club set to take its time in the midfielder’s recovery.

PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED

Harry Boyd: He’s only just officially signed, but Boyd played exclusively ruck for the stronger side and had his way with it. Mainly opposed to Dodson, Boyd fed his rotating midfielders, with a clean tap to Phillipou who burst through the centre square and hit the leading Mitch Owens on the chest a sign of things to come. Marshall did not play, but it is expected he spends more time forward in 2025 to help Max King in attack, giving Boyd a serious chance for a big first season.

Angus Hastie: The second-year defender managed five games in his debut campaign, but Hastie patrolled the half back line and was often the choice distributor by foot. While there was the rare blunder, Hastie was often poised in traffic and found a target, starting attacking thrusts for the stronger side. However, he was stationed in the weaker side’s defence, indicating it is still a battle for the second year defender to get consistent games.

James Barrat: Playing down back for the weaker side, Barrat’s competitive attitude shone through, rarely beaten in the air and following it up well on the ground. Barrat was drafted as a swingman, but did not spend any time up forward, but his use by foot was impressive for a key position player.

DOW’S SLOW PROGRESS AFTER THREE-WEEK HOSPITAL STINT

— Josh Barnes and Matt Forrest

St Kilda midfielder Paddy Dow’s availability in the first half of 2025 is under doubt as he begins to step back towards footy after three weeks in hospital.

The ex-Blue suffered through complications on an infection in his knee, after it swelled in mid-December.

He spent the Christmas period in hospital and battling the infection and now has no clear return date to playing.

The Saints are putting no pressure on Dow, 25, and are not rushing his return to training given the seriousness of the illness, and he is not yet running.

The onballer will miss the start of the home-and-away season and potentially months more in what had loomed a crucial year for the former No.3 pick.

Paddy Dow was hospitalised for three weeks after complications from an infection.

His knee kept him sidelined at the start of last season and Dow played just 10 matches in his first year after crossing from Carlton.

Infection issues are becoming more common in the AFL, with Hawthorn defender James Blanck having spent time in hospital last year due to infections following an ACL repair.

Blanck is not due back to play until several weeks into the season despite initially injuring his knee in February last year.

Retired Essendon defender Michael Hurley was hospitalised when his hip became infected following the 2020 season.

He lost 10kg and only played one more AFL game before retiring in 2022.

Like Dow, it was believed the infection initially began through blisters on Hurley’s feet.