Wood is set to join Saints after impressing

ST KILDA is poised to throw key forward Mason Wood a football lifeline, with the former Kangaroo a chance to line up alongside a bulked-up Max King in the Saints’ forward line this season.

Wood, who was delisted by North Melbourne at the end of last year, has impressed since joining the Saints for pre-season training last Tuesday.

St Kilda has three spare list spot that is able to fill under the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period before March 9.

However, Saints coach Brett Ratten has hinted a decision on Wood (pictured) could be made much sooner, potentially as early as Friday.

“There is room there and he’s training really well,” Ratten said on Wednesday.

“So we’ll go through that with (list manager) James Gallagher and we’ll have a chat later this week and where it sits. But he’s a fine young man and he’s done everything right so if he continues like that there’s an opportunity there.

“We have got space but we’ll make a decision as a club probably around Friday or Monday.”

Wood, 27, played 65 games and kicked 76 goals across seven seasons with North Melbourne but managed just eight AFL games last year.

The Saints have also been buoyed by the progress of fellow key forward Max King on the training track, who has added some muscle to his light frame over summer. King played 18 AFL games on debut last year after missing the 2019 season as he continued his recovery from an ACL injury.

“It’s his first full pre-season in a long time, virtually three full years,” Ratten said on 3AW radio. “He’s a big man and a big presence in our forward line and he’s probably put on 4-5kg, which is great.

“He’s just going to keep chipping away at his game but he’s got enormous talent and he knows that the best full backs will be coming for him.”