St Kilda track notes: Arie Schoenmaker, Paddy Dow impress at latest pre-season session

Fans wondered why St Kilda went to the draft targeting midfielders then picked two defenders in the top-10. Now, one of those picks has set his sights on joining Jack Steele in the engine room.

Endurance is the focus at RSEA Park, and the Saints’ top draftee Tobie Travaglia is the perfect example of this.

He outlined his quest for midfield minutes in 2025, working alongside Jack Steele to improve his midfield craft.

But it was his quick thinking that shone throughout drills and match simulation today, with his fast feet on full display both in agility drills and when finding a teammate under pressure.

Anthony Caminiti is nearing a full return, competing well and presenting clean hands in ground ball drills despite donning the non-contact yellow cap.

Angus McLennan and Rowan Marshall also trained with the non-contact headwear – keeping out the sun that emerged as the session progressed.

Max King took to the track in a range of drills, impressing below the knees when gathering ground balls, but completed running rather than match simulation.

Liam Stocker, Liam Henry and Marcus Windhager continued their rehab, sticking to their running programs.

Windhager has made the most of his time on the sidelines, looking to have improved his upper body strength and overall physical presence.

Also on the track was versatile Norwood ruckman and train-on player Harry Boyd, who is set to sign for the club in the supplemental selection period.

PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED

Arie Schoenmaker

Featuring in only four senior games after a tumultuous start to his career, the second-year defender looked right at home at RSEA Park, made evident as he brushed aside two opponents with ease during match simulation — one being Rowan Marshall. His agility looks to have reached new heights in a promising sign of a second-year backline breakout for the player picked at selection 62 in 2023.

Paddy Dow

It’s now or never for Dow, and battling against Jack Steele during ground ball drills is the best test you could get — one he passed with flying colours. After beating the Saints skipper and new recruit Patrick Said at ground level, he hit targets precisely by foot.

Jack Sinclair

While rolling through the midfield across the last two years, the dual All-Australian looks set to remain at half back for now. A lighter day on the track for Sinclair, completing running early with the recovering Anthony Caminiti and Angus McLennan, he worked his way into drills and match simulation where he played the distributor role.

Mason Wood

While the Saints continue to bolster their running talent, Mason Wood continues to stake his claim on the wing position, keeping ahead of Darcy Wilson and Tobie Travaglia in a series of short sprinting drills. Finding strong options by hand and foot whilst using his size against draftee James Barrat, Wood stood out in match simulation.

Alex Dodson and Max Heath at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Zac Jones at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

SAINTS’ TOP PICK EYES MIDFIELD ROLE — AS SOON AS 2025

St Kilda draftee Tobie Travaglia is already eyeing a midfield role as soon as next year after impressing early in his first pre-season.

The No. 8 selection in the draft, Travaglia was drafted as a dashing half back who could eventually find his way in the engine room and was compared to Hawthorn’s Will Day during his draft campaign.

Travaglia says he is working on his midfield craft with captain Jack Steele in a bid to carve out a centre square role in his debut campaign.

“With the midfield stuff we’re doing, at the minute I’m looking at trying to work into that midfield role as the year goes on,” Travaglia said.

“Little bits and pieces, little pinch hits and stuff (in the midfield), some different roles that require a bit more running.

“But definitely as well outside or half back will definitely be a role as well.”

Tobie Travaglia at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

St Kilda had a glaring hole in its midfield rotation heading into the off-season and answered some of the questions with the acquisition of Jack Macrae from the Western Bulldogs.

In the days before the draft, skipper Steele said it “would be nice” for the Saints to select two midfielders with the top-10 selections the club held.

Instead the Saints drafted two defenders in Travaglia and his Bendigo Pioneers teammate Alix Tauru at No. 10.

St Kilda then drafted utility James Barrat, who mainly played forward or back but did have one game as a tagging midfielder on Harvey Langford in the Coates Talent League, and hard-running midfielder Hugh Boxshall from Western Australia as two other future midfield options.

The pack rises. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Meanwhile the Saints have SANFL ruck Harry Boyd and VAFA under-19s star Jonah Campigli training with the club, with Boyd set to sign in the coming days to fill the final list spot at St Kilda.

Brad Hill said former top-10 selection Mattaes Phillipou was ready to take the next step to stardom after a strong end to his 2024 campaign.

“He finished off the season strong last year and has taken it into pre-season,” he said.

“Hopefully Mattaes can keep taking those steps forward and obviously he’s got all the traits to be a great player.”