St Kilda are hopeful key midfielder Zak Jones will be available for their round one date with Greater Western Sydney after the speedster suffered his third hamstring injury in 12 months.
The club confirmed on Tuesday that Jones had started a rehabilitation program after straining his left hamstring last week. He is listed as three weeks away from returning, which would be in time for St Kilda’s season-opener against the Giants in Sydney on Sunday, March 21.
Dash and carry: St Kilda's Zak Jones.Credit: Getty Images
The soft tissue injury continues a frustrating trend for the former Sydney hard nut, who was twice sidelined with minor hamstring ailments last year during his first season since being traded from the Swans. Jones finished sixth in St Kilda’s best and fairest last year, playing 16 of a possible 18 games.
Meanwhile, St Kilda youngster Ryan Byrnes is set for a delayed start to the season after suffering a serious hamstring tendon injury.
The Saints confirmed Byrnes will have surgery this week in a blow that is likely to sideline him for a couple of months.
Ryan Byrnes injured his hamstring at a training session at RSEA Park on Friday. Credit: Getty Images
Recruited from the Sandringham Dragons, Byrnes, 19, played a single senior game for the Saints last year after being drafted at pick 52 in 2019.
St Kilda earlier this month announced he had extended his contract for an extra season, tying him to Moorabbin until the end of 2022.
Mature-age recruit Shaun McKernan underwent scans on Monday after rolling his ankle last week but was not listed in the club’s injury report on Tuesday.
Injury-prone veteran Dan Hannebery has endured another interrupted pre-season with a calf issue but was also not listed on the report in a sign he should be right to go for the start of the season.
The club said co-captain Jarryn Geary was progressing well from a leg fracture and was on track to return in five-to-six weeks.
St Kilda are due to face North Melbourne in a practice match before an AAMI series game at Marvel Stadium on March 4.
The Saints were last year blessed with a very short injury list for much of the season, helping them to a first finals berth in nine years.
Veteran Dylan Roberton remains away from the club as he weighs up his future while former Adelaide-listed ruckman Paul Hunter has been training at the club as he vies to join Mason Wood as a pre-season supplemental selection period acquisition for the Saints.