FIRST-UP BAG: LACK OF PRE-SEASON NO WORRIES FOR 10-GOAL SAINTS SIGNING
LAST Tuesday, Ashley Templar signed with Carrara.
On Thursday, the new dad trained with the QFA division 3 side for the first time.
Today, the 26-year-old is a Saints hero after booting 10 goals in their success against the Hinterland Blues.
Templar was on Saturday the major beneficiary of a dominant Saints midfield who continuously put the key forward in range to unleash his booming left foot in the 15.13 (103) to 9.4 (58) win.
Templar had no intentions of playing footy this season after welcoming the arrival his first child three weeks ago.
However, he was lured back into playing by Saints coach and former Moorooka teammate Nick Pearson and the recent lack of sleep and fitness has done nothing to stop his quality in front of goal.
Templar signed last Tuesday and did his first training session on Thursday and despite missing the whole preseason, he is already shaping as a potential flag winner.
“It wasn’t a bad day,” Templar said.
“My expectations were pretty low considering the lack of training. The delivery was pretty spot on, so all I had to do was kick straight.
“I did my first session on Thursday and that is it since September last year. The body is struggling now.”
It came a year after Templar bagged 10 goals against the Saints for Victoria Point Sharks in a season where he kicked 91, including eight in the winning grand final.
His effort against Carrara in 2017 was part of four doubledigit games with Templar kicking 10 against the Hinterland Blues and 11 against Griffith Moorooka and Redcliffe.
Pearson said it was a glimpse into what Templar would be capable of for the Saints this season.
“It was a cracking effort and he is a good player,” Pearson said. “He is pretty unassuming but moves quite well and has a booming left foot.
“He can kick them from 60m out and rarely misses.”