This was published 7 years ago
AFL: Jake Carlisle working on getting body right, but also earning respect
By Sam McClure
St Kilda recruit Jake Carlisle says he still needs to earn the respect of his new teammates, despite having technically been a Saint for 12 months.
The 25-year-old has told the club he wants to return to pre-season training early with the first to fourth-year players on November 7, to have as big a pre-season as possible.
Jake Carlisle had a turbulent start to his career at St Kilda.Credit: Pat Scala
Carlisle had barely started pre-season training with his new club in January when the Essendon doping ban was handed down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The former Bomber says he feels mentally and physically refreshed, but concedes he still has a lot of work to do when it comes to his teammates.
"Oh, definitely, I still need to [earn their respect].
"And that's probably why I'm there a few days a week at the moment, and I'm still working outside of the St Kilda headquarters on my strength, testing and bike stuff.
"That's the only thing I can do, is let my actions do the talking."
Carlisle had a turbulent start to his career at St Kilda.
Not only was he one of 34 past and present Essendon players to be caught up in the supplements saga and ultimately suspended, he was at the centre of an illicit drugs scandal just days after being traded to the Saints.
St Kilda's sanction of Carlisle involved a two-game suspension, that the club has since said has been served concurrently with his doping ban.
To top off a tough period, the swingman had surgery in April for a hip injury that he's still recovering from.
Carlisle says his aim is to be playing for his new club in round one.
"Yeah really good, I feel pretty fit. I haven't run yet, but I'm on a good program, just on getting stronger … everything is progressing really well," he said.
"It's a lot more exciting for me anyway just to get back to the club.
"It's obviously been a long year, I've told the club I want to get back early with the young boys … it will be good to build a few relationships before the old boys get there.
"I'm actually feeling the best I've ever felt and the positive thing is that I've still got a long way to go."