St Kilda defender Callum Wilkie has provided an update on key pair Dan Hannebery and Jade Gresham.
Hannebery has played 15 games in three years at the Saints, dealing with ongoing calf and groin injuries.
Wilkie said the veteran midfielder was getting through sessions this summer, but was on a restricted workload for his own benefit.
“(Hannebery’s) going pretty well. He’s on a different program to a lot of other people, the injuries that he’s had in the past, it’s not viable to have him on the track every session carrying the same loads as the young players are doing,” the defender told SEN’s The Run Home.
“It’s all about managing his load and just making sure he’s getting through each session and getting through unscathed.
“He’s massive for us and not just his football ability, but his leadership on-field and off-field, setting people up, he provides so much to the club.”
Gresham suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in April of last season and Wilkie said the club is playing it safe with the talented midfielder.
“He’s tracking good. Just coming into training at the moment and from all reports his fitness is going well and he’s been looking good, they’re probably just not taking any risks with him,” he said.
“I can’t wait for him to come back out on the field with us, he’s such a pivotal piece in our team and he provides so much.”
St Kilda will play Carlton and Essendon in this year’s pre-season games, starting in late February.
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