Jack Billings re-signs with St Kilda until the end of 2021
St Kilda now has two of its brightest young stars locked away with new contracts after Jack Billings joined Jade Gresham in re-signing with the club. Billings reveals why he never considered leaving and his hopes for the future.
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St Kilda’s midfield star Jack Billings has revealed his close connection with teammates and a desire to help the Saints chase that elusive second flag drove his decision to recommit to the club for the next two seasons.
Fresh from his best-afield performance in the last week’s come-from-behind victory over Gold Coast, Billings has locked into the club until the end of the 2021 season — in a strong validation of the Saints’ future direction.
“I’m obviously excited to get it done,” Billings told the Herald Sun. “I always wanted to stay at the club; I love this place.”
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“I am a loyal person. We’ve got a great group here.
“Personally, I am just hoping I can play a part in winning the club’s second premiership. “That’s obviously the focus as the list we have got coming through is really exciting.
“I’m pumped. I just love so many of the young boys coming through, and hopefully we can build towards something special.”
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The news comes as a massive boost for the Saints ahead of Saturday’s important clash with Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium, along with the inclusions of Jake Carlisle and Dan Hannebery.
It means two of the Saints’ most dynamic players — Billings and Jade Gresham — are now locked away until the end of the 2021 and 2023 seasons respectively.
Despite significant interest from rival AFL clubs, Billings said he never had any intentions of leaving Moorabbin.
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He remains just as emphatic that the Saints can build on what has been a tough season from an injury situation.
“We’ve had some obstacles this year, but that’s footy,” he said. “You build resilience from those experiences and if anything, it is going to gell the group together and make us even closer, which is what you need to be as a successful team.
“I’ve got a massive thrill out of watching some of the guys step up this year. It’s been really exciting, not just for the future, but also now.”
Billings kicked two team-lifting goals in the final term against the Suns, including the major that turned out to be the matchwinner, easing the external pressure on the club.
He had 33 disposals in the game, one fewer than his career-best effort against Hawthorn in Round 4.
St Kilda list manager James Gallagher said Billings’ faith in the club was further proof that “we’re building something really special.”
“Jack represents a key part of the nucleus of younger players that we feel will be the drivers of the next successful on-field period for the St Kilda Football Club,” Gallagher said.
“We’ve seen Jack step up his leadership capacity this year, which he has taken in his stride, and we believe he’ll only grow into that further as he matures.”