St Kilda track watch: Mattaes Phillipou shines as breakout year looms

St Kilda pushed through the heat to complete a lung-busting session, and it was a young gun that stood up to signal his intentions for 2025. More in track watch here.

The Saints endured a challenging pre-season session on Friday. Picture: Mark Stewart

St Kilda’s senior players shone as the Saints were put through their paces in muggy conditions in Moorabbin but third-year ace Mattaes Phillipou showed he is ready to take his game up a notch.

It was the experienced members of the side who impressed most at RSEA Park as the Saints look to get back to September after missing out in 2024.

The Saints arrived home on Thursday after a ‘young boys’ camp in New Zealand and were straight back into action on Friday, as the players were put through a two-hour session of light skills and running.

Liam Henry remained away from the main group as he continues his knee surgery recovery.

Callum Wilkie was a notable absentee from the session.

Mattaes Phillipou was a standout on the track. Picture: Mark Stewart

Marcus Windhager and Zak Jones were standouts from the start but were relieved of their on-field duties halfway through the session, with half the group heading inside out of the heat.

The on-field group consisted of a mixture of experienced campaigners and new recruits with Bradley Hill, Jack Higgins, Jimmy Webster, Paddy Dow, and Phillipou the notable names.

There were plenty of hands on hips and knees throughout the session, and the same group were then pushed close to exhaustion with a large running block.

Shuttle runs and laps of the field were on the agenda and Hill and Phillipou looked to be the fittest.

Phillipou had a minor case of second-year blues in 2024, sent to the VFL for large parts as he played 13 games after not missing a match in his debut season.

But the uber-professional left-footer powered through Friday’s session as he looks to step back up in 2025.

The rest of the group featured mainly 1-3 year players.

New recruits Jack Carroll and Jack Macrae also featured and looked strong, using their lovely left foot kicks on multiple occasions.

The players competed in a front and centre drill inside forward 50 which showcased the Saints’ high-pressure defence and were then thrown into a selection of handball and kicking drills along the wing.

Ex-Blue Carroll pulled up a little sore towards the end of the session.

Jack Macrae is fitting in nicely at his new club. Picture: Mark Stewart

PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED

Jack Macrae

The former Dog impressed during the whole session with his trademark kicking on full display. During a length of the field drill, Macrae put in a rapid fire sprint before diving full length and producing a double-fister over the boundary line. Teammates were quick to rush to him and he jumped up with a big grin and a flex of the muscles.

Bradley Hill

Heading into his 14th season, Hill looks fit and is running well. In a front-and-centre drill, his chase down tackle saw the entire group of about 25 players get around him. Was the clear leader during other drills, instructing younger teammates and being a vocal presence.

Tobie Travaglia in action. Picture: Mark Stewart

Tobie Travaglia

The No.8 pick was impressive during an up-and-back drill on the wing – he was the middle link in the chain, working hard both ways and lofting two 15 metre handpasses to teammates in space.

Darcy Wilson

The second-year Saint appears to have bulked up and his running capacity was once again on full display. Wilson comfortably outran all of his teammates running laps around the ground and looked explosive during the drills.