ST KILDA defender Jake Carlisle is back in full training after an off-season restricted by recovery from hip surgery, Saints football manager Jamie Cox says.
Carlisle, 25, went under the knife early in 2016 and worked in construction during the year after being banned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport as a member of the 'Essendon 34'.
While St Kilda improved last year and missed finals on percentage only, its defence was an issue, with the team ranked 13th in the competition for points conceded.
Cox told SEN radio on Thursday that Carlisle would improve the side's backline.
"He's now in full training and really showing us what we've missed in the past, which is another big body to help look after some of those big monsters up forward," Cox said.
Former Greater Western Sydney onballer Jack Steele came to the club with a fractured metatarsal in his left foot, which required an operation.
Cox said the 21-year-old would join the main group soon.
"He's almost back in full training," Cox said.
"He's a very impressive, big-bodied midfielder who's a really good runner. He's a really strongly skilled player who will add to our midfield depth in the short-term.
"We were so pleased that we got him as our main target during the trade period."
The Saints also traded in Koby Stevens from the Western Bulldogs, while Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Brown was signed as a restricted free agent for two years.
Luckless midfielder Nathan Freeman has been in full training after having dealt with ongoing hamstring issues since being drafted at No. 10 in 2013.
"He went off to Germany in the off-season for them to have another look at his hamstring and his preparation and that came back really positive," Cox said.
"He's been in full training for probably about six weeks."
However, Cox did not guarantee Freeman would play for St Kilda in 2017.
"Whether it means he plays senior football this year, well, we'll wait and see," he said.
"But for us, he's certainly well advanced from where he was when he first joined the club."
