Saints draftee Alixzander Tauru sidelined with back stress fracture

A top-10 Saints draftee could miss a significant chunk of his first pre-season after picking up a back stress fracture. JAY CLARK has the details.

Top St Kilda draft pick Alix Tauru will be on light duties until February as he recovers from a stress fracture in his back.

The high-flying defender who was taken with pick 10 will be restricted to running and swimming until the new year after hurting himself late in the 2024 season for Gippsland Power.

The Saints were aware of the injury before taking him in the draft last week and will remain cautious with the man the club believes has a bright long-term future.

It means the 193cm Tauru, who is a brilliant aerialist, will undergo significant testing in the new year before the club begins to slowly ramp up his training in preparation for VFL games in the early part of next season.

And exciting playmaker Liam Henry remained absent from training on Wednesday as he returns from a knee complaint.

St Kilda draft picks Alixzander Tauru and Tobie Travaglia after being drafted by St Kilda. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Henry, who is one of the club’s most exhilarating ball users, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Round 19 and required postseason surgery.

He could also be sidelined until at least next month as the club looks to add gun SANFL ruckman Harry Boyd to help bolster its tall stocks.

Boyd, who starred for Norwood, is a ready-made big man who could help support Rowan Marshall who has carried an enormous load in recent years.

Boyd is training with the Saints and could be added to the list as part of the supplemental selection period.

Football manager David Misson said the Saints wanted to rise up the ladder next season after hitting the draft hard again in 2024 with two more top-10 acquisitions, Tauru and running machine Tobie Travalglia.

“It is a possibility mindset for us. Anything is possible. We have got players who we feel have got a lot to give the Saints and have a lot of great potential,” Misson said.

“We are just really hopeful we are providing the coaching structure and high performance structure that can provide our players to play their best.”

Spearhead Max King is also tracking well in his recovery from a knee injury and could join main training next week.

The Saints have also shuffled their assistant coaches’ duties, making champion onballer Robert Harvey in charge of the midfield group in 2025.

Brendon Bolton will take over the forwards, Corey Enright will be responsible for strategy, and Jared Rovers will lead the back line.

Brendon Goddard is head of the VFL team.