VETERAN defender Sean Dempster has had an active role in formulating St Kilda’s fitness program for 2016.

The 31-year-old, who will return to training along with the rest of the five-plus year players on November 23, recently completed a University degree in Biomedical Science that required placement in a professional workplace.

Having been in the AFL system for over a decade, it was a no brainer for Dempster to shadow St Kilda’s Strength and Conditioning Manager Josh Low late last year, before the two sat down and put together summer running programs for every St Kilda player.

“We did lots of theoretical projects such as injury rehabilitation and strength sessions,” Low told SAINTS.com.au.

“Once we’d done a few of them we decided to make them a bit more practical which led to Sean writing the off-season running program for the guys.

“He did a terrific job.”

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High Performance Manager Matt Hornsby had not started at the club when Low and Dempster were working together, but was impressed with the end result.

“Josh Low sent them through to me and it was really similar if not identical to what I would have done,” Hornsby said.

“Sean and I spoke over the phone about it and then presented the program to the players before they left on holidays. I’ve been very impressed with Sean and he knows what he’s doing. It’s great when you can lean on leaders in your group to drive those sorts of things.

“I was pleased when I saw that. It’s so much more powerful when it comes from a fellow teammate.”

Dempster has played 203 games and finished third in St Kilda’s Trevor Barker Award in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. 

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