St Kilda defender Callum Wilkie has been a huge part of his side’s early success in 2023.
With the Saints 6-2 through eight games, the defender has been the lynchpin of Ross Lyon’s staunch defence as he sits equal-fourth in the AFL Coaches Association votes alongside Jeremy Cameron.
Playing career-best football in 2023, Wilkie has been pleased with both the team’s and his own individual start to the season.
“It's been a good start to the season,” Wilkie told SEN SA The Run Home.
“We’re 6-2 and playing some good footy with a lot of things to improve on.
“It's been a big change to the football club, sometimes change gives a new energy and a sort of new life.
“So, it's been good.”
With Lyon seemingly transforming the Saints since returning to Moorabbin in the off-season, Wilkie gave an insight into how the veteran coach has revamped the group with the side executing his game style to perfection.
“He's tough, but he's fair and if you do right by him and he'll do right by you,” Wilkie said.
“But he's an excellent coach. I think we're a very coachable group, or at least that's what Ross keeps saying, almost to a fault sometimes.
“We've got a lot of players that are eager to learn and are eager to get better.
“It's driven from the top and the bottom, from the senior players to the younger players.
“The younger players, they're awesome, all they want to do is learn and get better and it sort of brings a new life into everyone else.
“Ross came in and set a really high standard of what he expected, and everyone jumped on board and we're seeing it come to life a little bit.
“We do have a lot of things to him improve on, but the way we're going about it, it's pleasing.”
Like most Ross Lyon teams, the defence has been the platform for the side’s success and Wilkie gave an insight into how the back six has conceded more than 100 points less than the AFL’s next best through eight rounds.
“A lot of it comes down to work rate,” Wilkie explained.
“Ross saw that as a strength in terms of our fitness and running ability when he first got to the club.
“He turned it into a real strength with how hard preseason was and we sort of made that a real strength going into the start of the season.
“That was our defence, our ability to outnumber and work hard defensively to help us backs out, which has been pleasing and made my life a lot easier.”
With a Round 9 battle against Adelaide awaiting them, Wilkie was asked what matchup he was expecting at the Adelaide Oval.
“I've taken Tex (Taylor Walker) the last couple of times,” Wilkie said.
“I imagine I'll get him again. I’ve had a couple of good battles with him.
“I’d imagine I’d line up on him again.”
The bounce for Sunday’s game between the Crows and Saints is set for 1.10 pm (AEST).