IMPROVED St Kilda defender Daniel McKenzie won the club's 3km time trial on Monday morning.

Hard-running midfielder Ed Phillips came second while the victor of the Saints' run a fortnight ago for first-to-fourth-year players, prospective draftee Tom Jok, came third.

Several senior players didn't participate. 

Reigning time trial champion Jarryn Geary missed after off-season knee surgery and faces a delayed start to pre-season. 

Others absent included Dan Hannebery, Jack Steven, Jake Carlisle and Tim Membrey, who were managed. 

Seb Ross, Jack Sinclair, Jack Newnes and Jack Lonie rounded out the top seven. 

McKenzie was among 12 Saints to record a personal-best time after a season that saw him finish 10th in the best and fairest despite managing just 13 matches.

He missed the club's initial time trial while touring China with Jack Billings ahead of the club's clash against Port Adelaide in round 11 next year.

"Today showed that the group's done the work in the off-season," high performance boss Matt Hornsby told saints.com.au.

"When you get a fair chunk of guys who run PBs, including senior guys like a Nathan Brown (top 15), then that’s a great sign and a great example for what's a fairly young list at the moment.

"'Browny' really challenged himself and ran to absolute threshold, and it showed in his results."

Gun backman Jimmy Webster finished well ahead of his PB while Dylan Roberton was another to impress, as he prepares for a full pre-season after a campaign ruined by a heart issue.

Jok is training at RSEA Park ahead of the NAB AFL Draft later this week in a bid to be picked up.

The athletic tall lined up in Collingwood's VFL side this year and played seven games.

Hannebery predicted Jok would be recruited when asked about him last Thursday.

"I think he'll be a player. Really raw, plenty of upside, his work-rate's outstanding. One of the better runners so far in the first-to-fourth-year guys," Hannebery said.

"He's got a nice kick on him too and he's a good size. 

"If the Saints don't take him, which I hope they do, a club would be stupid not to take a chance on Tom Jok. He looks like a real up-and-coming prospect."

Time trial results

1. Daniel McKenzie
2. Ed Phillips
3. Tom Jok
4. Seb Ross
5. Jack Sinclair