Arie Schoenmaker slides to St kilda’s pick 62 in the AFL Draft

It seemed as though Arie Schoenmaker was going to miss out after the superboot slid down to pick 62, but that’s when the Saints pounced. Here’s what St Kilda had to say about their draft night.

St Kilda believes Arie Schoenmaker’s 10-week ban for drinking on a pre-season camp should not define the superboot after securing the slider of the draft with the third last selection.

Fox Footy cameras were at Schoenmaker’s house in Launceston and the defender was outside hugging his mum, thinking he was set to miss out, moments before the Saints called his name at No.62.

North Melbourne recruiter Scott Clayton said Schoenmaker was the “best kick in the world – a beautiful left foot that goes forever” and several clubs think he could one day punt in the NFL.

But it looked like that off-field indiscretion was set to see Schoenmaker punted from the AFL draft until the Saints said yes.

“He’s had some adversity in terms of early on in the year. He had to go back and find some form and prove himself again,” list boss Stephen Silvagni said.

“That’s a good sign. He’s a young boy – he’s 18 years of age. We’re giving him a chance and hopefully he takes that chance because he’s got some talent.”

Arie Schoenmaker is off to the Saints. Picture: Getty Images

The Saints have done plenty of homework on Lance Collard, the freakish forward who kicked 10 goals in two WAFL finals this year and has endured a difficult upbringing.

They effectively turned Jade Gresham into the Bobby Hill-type.

But they were twice pipped for a ruckman, with Sydney taking Will Green one pick before St Kilda in the first round and then Geelong taking Mitch Edwards one pick before St Kilda in the second.

But Silvagni was buoyed by the face they banked five super athletes after coach Ross Lyon requested speed to burn.

“The game has been going that way for quite some time,” Silvagni said.

The club’s first pick, Darcy Wilson, is the son of his Murray Bushrangers’ talent manager Mick Wilson.

But the local legend kept his distance from the Bushrangers’ boys’ program this year to remove any perceived bias and when AFL clubs called asking about Darcy they were told to speak to coach Mark Brown.

Arie Schoenmaker at the Draft Combine. Picture: Getty Images

Saints recruiters Chris Toce and Jarryd Roughead visited Wilson at Wangaratta recently as they closed in on the aerobic beast.

Mick Wilson was the nephew of North Melbourne inaugural premiership player “The Galloping Gasometer” Mick Nolan and the family are passionate Kangas fans.

But they also have links with the Saints – the family is close with St Kilda Hall of Famer and 1966 premiership hero Bob Murray, who relocated to Tarrawingee when Mick was growing up.

The Murrays and Wilsons often attended Roos-Saints games together.

Darcy is expected to move in with captain Jack Steele and will also have his sister, Kelsie (studying at Monash University), in Melbourne.

“One of his weapons is obviously his running,” Mick said.

“His athletic profile is strong, and all through his career he has had the ability get lots of footy and hit the scoreboard.”

Originally published as Arie Schoenmaker slides to St kilda’s pick 62 in the AFL Draft