ST KILDA’s first to fourth year players were put through a gruelling fitness examination on Monday morning, with Jack Newnes again showing his elite aerobic capabilities around Albert Park Lake.

Newnes was first across the line in both the 3km and 2km time trials, which were staged back-to-back much to the surprise of the playing group.

New High Performance Manager Matt Hornsby said the decision to hold a 2km time trial directly after the initial run was as much to test the players mentally as it was to measure their current fitness levels.

“It was about creating a scenario whereby we need to expect the unexpected.” Hornsby told SAINTS.com.au.

“We can’t always be looking for the finish line. In a game of footy, even though we know a quarter is roughly 30 minutes, who knows exactly when the finish line is going to be? As a result, we need to have that mindset of working hard until the very end, whenever that may be.”

“I was really pleased with the attitude of the boys. They didn’t drop their heads and focused on trying to achieve the best they possibly could when they were absolutely cooked.

“That’s all I can ask of them.”

In previous years, St Kilda has favoured 2km time trials as the best distance to test the players’ running capacity. However this year’s extension to 3km run is a more accurate reflection of the modern day game, Hornsby said.

“The increased distance is relevant to the demands of the game and it makes sense to test them over an extended period of time,” he said.

“I was impressed with how the guys went. The majority of the guys looked like they are in pretty good shape. We need to have the mentality of hurting for longer.”

Newnes, who has played 44 consecutive games for the Saints, finished 12 seconds ahead of Seb Ross and Josh Saunders, while Blake Acres and Eli Templeton rounded out the top five.

Jack Billings, Jimmy Webster, Luke Dunstan, Tom Lee, Daniel McKenzie and new recruits Jake Carlisle and Nathan Freeman were on modified duties and spent the session on the bikes and the rowing machines.

The rest of the playing group will return to training on November 23, while Nick Riewoldt will arrive back from the USA in the new year. The next 3km time trial will be held in a month's time at a pre-season training camp in Queensland.

3km time trial top 10:

1.      Jack Newnes

2.      Seb Ross

3.      Josh Saunders

4.      Blake Acres

5.      Eli Templeton

6.      Jack Lonie

7.      Nathan Wright

8.      Jack Sinclair

9.      Darren Minchington

10.   Josh Bruce