Jake Carlisle counting down days to start 2017 pre-season with St Kilda

JAKE Carlisle is eager to return to St Kilda on September 13 — the first day he is permitted — to start a massive pre-season after recent hip surgery.

Jake Carlisle at Seaford. Picture: Michael Klein

JAKE Carlisle is eager to return to St Kilda on September 13 — the first day he is permitted — to start a massive pre-season after recent hip surgery.

The St Kilda defender has been banned by WADA, with ongoing concerns over the club’s key talls heightening the urgency of his return.

Hugh Goddard is out for a season with an Achilles rupture, Sam Fisher’s year has been interrupted by a hamstring issue and 32-year-old Sean Dempster has had knee surgery.

Carlisle is back running as he nears the end of a 12-week recovery from hip surgery, and meets St Kilda’s physiotherapy off-site once a week as permitted.

He is spending three days a week as an assistant site manager in construction, a day in full rehab and another day catching up with St Kilda teammates.

St Kilda head of football Jamie Cox said the former Bomber sat in the outer most St Kilda home games and was keen to return.

“I don’t think his (hunger) has ever waned. He comes to our games, he is working full-time and the reports are that he is going well physically.

“I imagine he will be back at 9am on the 13th, knowing how eager he is to start his time with the club again.

“The smart thing would be to put some work into him early, let him go off and enjoy a break with the others, then for all of them to come back together.”

Not great news but wishing @hughgoddard23 the best with the injury.. Can't wait for the both of us to get out there playing together in 2017

— Jake Carlisle (@jcarlisle22) June 6, 2016

Carlisle’s manager Anthony McConville told the Herald Sun his client was desperate to make an impact next year.

“He will be guided by the club but he is 100 per cent keen. It’s been difficult for him not being able to play.

“He will get that opportunity again next year and he wants to get back into the main workload of the club and the day-to-day interaction that comes in September.”

Carlisle has not been paid by the club since his ban started in mid-January, with a financial settlement with Essendon still some way off.

“He hasn’t been paid since the start of the year, so it would have been nice but we are working through that with the lawyers.

“It is a long way from being resolved.”

Jake Carlisle during pre-season training at St Kilda.

The Saints gave up picks five and 24 for Carlisle, with that trade also securing exciting midfielder Jade Gresham with Essendon’s pick 14.

Under AFL rules they are allowed to provide Carlisle with medical treatment as long as it is not on St Kilda premises.

McConville said Carlisle’s surgery would allow him to build his core strength after it limited him from a range of weights programs.

“St Kilda knew there was an impingement there and given the suspension it was decided to do it now.

“He needed to get more work done around his glutes and quads and through his legs.

“In essence the reality was he couldn’t get full extension in terms of doing his squats.”