Speaking in the lead-up to this week’s season opener against the Sydney Swans, Dal Santo scoffed at suggestions that his side’s window of opportunity was over if it did not win the flag this year.
“We need to win a premiership because we haven’t won one since ’66. We’re probably like every other club, we stand here a week out from round one and we’re equal at the moment,” Dal Santo said.
“We don’t need to win a premiership (this year) but obviously it would be fantastic. I don’t know about windows to be honest. You hear a lot of talk about that in the media but to me it doesn’t really make sense.”
Coming in to his eighth season of senior football – three of which ended in preliminary finals finishes – Dal Santo is well aware of the challenge involved in winning that elusive flag.
“Naturally the competition gets better. Hawthorn and Geelong were stand out teams last year and it’s a matter of bridging that gap and catching up to them and trying to beat them,” he said.
The 25-year-old said he was unsure how many new players the Saints would blood against the Swans. Former Hawk defender Zac Dawson trained with the main group, as did returning backman Matt Maguire who pulled up well from a run with St Kilda’s VFL team Sandringham on Saturday.
Senior players Lenny Hayes, Xavier Clarke, Brendon Goddard, Steven Baker and Clinton Jones trained separately from the main group.
Dal Santo said it would not be long until Maguire is seen back at AFL level.
“Obviously it’s Monday morning so I’m not too sure (how well he pulled up). I know he got through fine. I’m, sure he’ll get assessed and be managed as he has for the whole pre-season. He’ll be round the mark over the next couple of weeks.”
Dream Team watch – Nick Dal Santo is rated a $382,200 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009
