ST KILDA captain Jarryn Geary has retained his status as the club's endurance king, holding out fast-finishing youngster Ed Phillips to win the Saints' 3km time trial.
The 29-year-old last week made public his interest in remaining skipper and returned to pre-season in typically good shape.
Phillips, brother of Collingwood's Tom and yet to play an AFL game, reduced Geary's significant lead in the closing stages without threatening to cause a boilover.
Reigning Trevor Barker medallist Seb Ross placed third, narrowly ahead of Maverick Weller on a wet morning at the Linen House Centre.
Jack Sinclair and veteran defender Sam Gilbert staged somewhat of a match race in the final 100 metres and were credited with the same time.
Midfielders Jack Steele and Blake Acres stopped the clock just behind the leading group.
Top-10 picks Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield did not contest the time trial and instead completed a different running set on the main oval.
The Saints set out for the 3km time trial. Picture: saints.com.au
