After the most consistent season of his 90-game career last year, game-breaking runner Shane Savage has focused this summer on improving the defensive area of his arsenal to help complement his damaging run-and-carry style.
The 24-year-old played 20 games in 2015 – the most he has played since crossing from Hawthorn in 2013 and the most he has accumulated since 2012 when he played in the Hawks’ Grand Final loss to Sydney.
Following an up-and-down first season at St Kilda, where he spent a large chunk of the season at Sandringham, Savage emerged as one of the Saints most damaging ball users last year.
Now, he wants to strike the right balance between offense and defence to take his game to another level this season.
“Probably the defensive side of my game (is where I’ve focused most over the pre-season). I thought I really took control of my offense last year,” Savage told saints.com.au after St Kilda’s intra-club at Trevor Barker Oval.
“So it was just about getting that balance right. I think I’ve got that right this year and I’m looking forward to a pretty solid year.”
Savage’s life has changed in the last year since the arrival of his first child, something that has brought with it challenges of a different variety to football, and something that has added to the challenge of pre-season.
“It’s (pre-season) been really good. It’s been challenging. My one-year old has been pretty tough at home, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Savage said.
“But I’m feeling fit and ready to go in a couple of weeks. I’m feeling really good and feeling really good mentally as well.”
St Kilda’s pre-season campaign takes another stride forward this weekend with the club’s opening NAB Challenge clash against North Melbourne in Wangaratta.
With Round 1 only six weeks away, Savage is keen to play in all three pre-season fixtures to help prepare him for the long winter ahead.
“I’m hoping to play in all three hit-outs, get some really good game fitness under my belt before round one. It’s going to be a pretty tough contest in all three games, starting next week against North Melbourne, but we’re looking forward to it,” he said.
