AFL Daily: Lewis Pierce says moving VFL clubs has helped revive his AFL career

ST KILDA’S Lewis Pierce says depth players should copy his unique VFL model after moving from the Saints’ affiliate Sandringham to Frankston to revive his career. Re-cap all the day’s breaking news.

ST KILDA’S Lewis Pierce says depth players should copy his unique VFL model as he prepares to battle former teammate and dual premiership ruckman Ben McEvoy at Etihad Stadium.

Pierce trains at Moorabbin with St Kilda and then rucks for Frankston in the VFL, despite the Saints’ alignment with Sandringham. Pierce, 23, asked for a transfer this season after being forced to play forward last year because he was stuck behind Tom Hickey, Billy Longer and Jason Holmes in the ruck queue. ROUND 22: SEE WHO THE EXPERTS ARE TIPPING BRERETON: JEANS PREDICTED SAINTS STRUGGLES WHISPERS: GAFF DECISION DOWN TO TWO TEAMS “I would definitely recommend it to anyone, if it can be done again,” Pierce told the Herald Sun. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next year. “Once you get past the fact you’re not going to be with your mates … but you train with them through the week, and now I’ve got a whole group of mates at Frankston as well. “It’s also been good in terms of refreshing myself, playing at a different club on the weekend but still being part of the Saints.” Coach Alan Richardson made the surprising admission he had not seen Pierce play live this year until last week’s AFL return against Essendon. St Kilda’s ruck coach, Adam Skrobalak, is also Frankston’s senior coach and reports back to Richardson with feedback and vision. Pierce has been a VFL standout this year and could win Frankston’s best-and-fairest. The lanky boy was bumped to the rookie list but was one of St Kilda’s best last week, recording eight hit-outs to advantage opposed to Tom Bellchambers. “It was kind of like a debut again, it’s been so long,” Pierce said. “It took 3 ½ years for my first game, and it’s taken another 2 ½ years to get my second. Frankston has been so good to me, specifically Adam Skrobalak. “He’s been a great mentor for me and I couldn’t speak highly enough of him. I really thank what he’s done for me at Frankston and the opportunity he’s given me to get me to this position where I was able to play again. “I’ve always been behind those guys (Hickey and Longer) and it’s just been about scrapping to get a game, to be honest. “It’s happened because of injury, but I’ve finally got one and I’ve just got to make the most of these last few games.” Richardson said: “On that performance, perhaps we could’ve had him in earlier”. The out-of-contract big man had 20 Frankston teammates watching him at Etihad Stadium last week and said he was a “mobile ruckman who’s really aggressive” in the centre. “Getting uncontested touches around the ground is so important now, so as much as I can link-up with the mids and they can trust me to use the ball, that’s a focus as well,” he said. Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >

Originally published as AFL Daily: Lewis Pierce says moving VFL clubs has helped revive his AFL career