Young St Kilda midfielders Jack Newnes, Mav Weller and Seb Ross have all completed impressive pre-seasons on the track, and according to Senior Assistant Coach Adam Kingsley, the trio have become more well-rounded players during the summer.

All three are renowned for their high level of professionalism and their appetite for hard work, and that has stood out across the last three or four months. But for Kingsley, it’s their application to the specifics of their craft that has impressed him.

With Round 1 on the horizon, Kingsley has challenged Newnes, Weller and Ross to translate the form on the track into more consistent performances throughout the winter months, where the collection and distribution of leather is more valuable than gold.

“The three of them have really worked hard on their footy stuff, on their knowledge of the game and they’ve worked on their ability to play on the inside but then get on the outside and work,” Kingsley told saints.com.au.

“So they’re really completing themselves as midfielders. The next challenge for them is to have consistent performances in the games that matter.

“It’s all well and good doing it during the pre-season and training, but their challenge is going to be game day.

“We’re confident they’ve put themselves in really good positions to perform.”

With a reasonably clean bill of health at the Saints, competition for spots has been fierce during the pre-season with a plethora of options putting their cases forward for a spot in Alan Richardson’s midfield.

Jack Billings has overcome the stress fracture that derailed his second season, Sam Gilbert has emerged as bona-fide tall midfielder option and the development of relatively inexperienced players like Ross and Blake Acres has increased the Saints onball depth.

“It certainly is very competitive for spots. We’ve had a really good pre-season as a midfield group,” Kingsley said.

“We’ve done a lot of midfield work with some newer guys – Sam Gilbert has spent a lot more time in the midfield now, so he’s up and going, looking pretty good.

“Sebby Ross has been terrific, Blake Acres has had a really good pre-season, so they’re really pushing for midfield spots both on the inside and on the wings.”