OF THE five-man leadership group St Kilda announced in February, three have already missed extended stints this season. 

Boom recruit Dan Hannebery hasn't played this season as his body has been rebuilt, gun backman Dylan Roberton's career hangs in the balance after a reoccurrence of his heart issue and captain Jarryn Geary required emergency surgery for compartment syndrome in his right quad.

The Saints lost four straight after Geary went out and stand-in skipper Seb Ross, who has led the side over the past five games and six in total this year, told AFL.com.au there was an acclimatisation process for those who needed to fill the void.

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"It's been a little bit of a teething period for some blokes to step up their games from a leadership point of view, in terms of taking ownership of how we want to play and then being able to back that up and drive the standards out on the field with their communication," Ross said.

"With 'Gears' (out) and then losing Jack Lonie, they're our two main communicators on the field, so Tim Membrey has been in really strong form and he's in the leadership group, but it's really been put on him to really lead that young forward line because there are probably three or four guys who have played under 10 games.

"Down back, Nathan Brown's the same. Jack Billings has really improved in that area."

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Geary is looking good to make a remarkably quick recovery and face Port Adelaide on Sunday. He will fly to China for the game St Kilda is 'hosting' in Shanghai, and if he gets through training, will take to the field.

His teammates are stunned that after three surgeries and lying in a hospital bed for five days with an open wound running down his right thigh, the hard-nosed defender could be back within 44 days.

"We're all pretty surprised…I expected him to be out for about 10 weeks, minimum," Ross said.

The meeting with Port, between two sides sitting 5-5, will be St Kilda's first trip to China in what is a three-year deal.

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"Luke O'Brien, the footy services manager, alluded to us making a bit of history because we're the first side to play in three countries: Australia, New Zealand and now China," Ross said.

"Didn't think I'd ever be able to play in New Zealand and didn't think I'd be able to play in China. It's a pretty cool opportunity."

One who won't be making the venture is Hannebery. The triple All Australian will instead line up for Sandringham in his first game for the club at any level since being traded from Sydney.

Ross was impressed by what he saw at training last week.

"It was more his intensity that embarrassed blokes. Being round 10, guys are feeling a bit sore, and he's come in fresh and he really adds to the energy and intensity of the group," Ross said.

Dan Hannebery in action at Saints training last week. Picture: AFL Photos

The Saints endured a brutal pre-season for the purpose of hitting the campaign in tip-top shape to take advantage of teams that started slower.

"We knew we wanted to take the JLT Series really serious because the first four or five games of the season tend to be a raffle where teams are trying to find their feet, trying to find their form, so if you can bank some early wins it really holds you in good stead," Ross said.

"We were always pretty confident in how we were going to be playing. We knew we were going to improve.

"We got to 4-1 and then had a really tough month with who we played, and we sort of went away from how we were playing for the full 120 minutes, but we got back on the winner's list last weekend."

St Kilda is an unlikely September contender, but Ross didn't want to cast his thoughts that far ahead.

"I've never played finals before, so I don't think too much about the finals aspect," Ross said.

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