New St Kilda recruit Harry Boyd has already earned himself a new nickname under Ross Lyon... The Meatball.
A big-bodied ruckman plucked out of the SANFL after claiming the Magarey Medal in 2024, Boyd was quick to impress Lyon and his new teammates in his SSP train-on stint over the summer.
The Saints had decided on securing Boyd's services before the new year, adding the 27-year-old to their ruck ranks for the campaign ahead in a role that will see the Norwood product support star tall Rowan Marshall.
With Marshall sidelined with a pelvic injury, Boyd took on the ruck duties alongside uncapped Saint Max Heath over the weekend against Carlton's experienced pairing of Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet.
The pair held their own in their first pre-season outing, with Boyd - who loses four centimetres to both Blues ruckmen - using his size and strength to his advantage.
The performance has only strengthened Boyd's Round 1 playing prospects amid uncertainty surrounding Marshall's recovery timeline, with Lyon rapt to see the mature-aged recruit look comfortable at the top level.
St Kilda captain Jack Steele was equally thrilled, praising the 198cm ruckman after his first hitout in his new colours.
"Ross gave him the nickname 'The Meatball' after the game, which is quite funny," Steele told Zero Hanger.
"He is just a ball of muscle, he's a solid unit. He's not overly tall, but he just competes. He's been so nice and so easy to work with from the moment he walked in the doors of the club.
"I was glad to see him play well. Not only get an opportunity but also play well on the weekend.
"Hopefully it's just the start of something for Harry."
Under the ruck work of Boyd and Heath, the Saints presented a new-look engine room ensemble as Steele combined with new recruit Jack Macrae as the leaders in midfield.
Young pair Hugo Garcia and Hugh Boxshall also impressed in the outing at Princes Park, buoying the Saints skipper's confidence in the club's depth going forward.
"They played their part, were able to compete and bring the ball to a pretty good spot," Steele said of his ruck duo.
"Jack Macrae has come in and helped me out a little bit, he's someone that I'm working quite closely with. It's good to have another senior leader player in there. So he's been great.
"Then obviously Hugh and Hugo, the two young fellas, they've been great as well. They've shown so many good signs across the pre-season that they're just about ready-made. So it was good to see them get an opportunity on Saturday.
"It's nice to know we've got that depth and they're up to it at the level."
The acquisition of Macrae came as the club bid farewell to almost 400 games of experience with the double departure of midfielders Brad Crouch and Seb Ross.
The lack of leaders to accompany Steele in the middle was a cause for concern, with Macrae filling the void after 249 games and a premiership with the Western Bulldogs.
Discussions with Lyon helped Steele relay his desire for the addition of an experienced onballer to help nurture the club's emerging crop, with Steele crediting his coach and list leads Graeme Allan and Stephen Silvagni for securing a three-time All-Australian on the open market.
"I've had conversations with Ross about about that. So he's obviously across it, and I'm sure he would have those conversations with the list managers and stuff around what he needs," Steele said.
"Jack, he's perfect. Last year we lost Brad and Ross, who were key and senior players that I played a lot of footy with, but Jack's fitted in seamlessly with with what we're trying to do and achieve as a midfield group and also as a team.
"I trust Gubby and SOS and what they're doing as well as Ross. So I think they've done a good job."
St Kilda's 2025 campaign gets underway in Adelaide against the Crows on Sunday, March 16.
