AFL: Jack Peris ices knee after heavy collision at St Kilda in front of mum Nova

The genetics of Jack Peris courtesy of his Olympian mum ensured he could handle a big collision on his second day of AFL training with St Kilda.

Jack Peris, son of Olympics great Nova Peris, has been drafted by St Kilda. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Jack Peris spent most of his second full training session at St Kilda icing his knee after a “little scare”, with his mum, Olympic great Nova Peris, watching from the sidelines on Wednesday morning.

Taken by the Saints as a category B rookie, Peris is a junior sprinting star who has a personal best of 10.97 seconds over 100m, a genetic advantage gained from his mother who won Olympic gold in hockey before turning to athletics.

The slightly built 18-year-old couldn’t outrun a collision during his first contact drill of the day that forced him off the field, not that his mum was shaken as she looked on.

“She wasn’t too concerned, she knows I’ve had my fair share of injuries,” Peris said as he and his fellow St Kilda draftees were unveiled at Moorabbin.

“She’s been my athletics coach for the last couple of years, she’s taught me to be resilient.”

Peris also said he had strong knees courtesy of a long junior athletics career and so hoped he’d heal quickly so he cold make some more inroads on his first AFL pre-season.

“I just got caught in a tackle, my knees are strong and I’m grateful for that,” he said.

“Just some jarring and bruising. Hopefully, I’ll be out there on Friday for the main session, just a little scare.”

Peris has drafted out of the St Kilda Next Generation Academy having shelved athletics ambitions in 2021 to focus on trying to get onto the Saints list after playing for the Sandringham Dragons.

He had the full support of his mum who had overseen his stellar junior athletics career that developed assets St Kilda hopes to build on.

“She’s very supportive of the pathway I choose to go down … she’s very proud of me,” Peris said.

“I had a few meetings with St Kilda during the year about them looking to develop my speed and my assets on the footy field a lot more. I’m really looking forward to taking the next step.

“A lot of outside run and tackling pressure, that’s what I do best.”

Right at home at RSEA Park 🏠

Hear from Jack Peris after his first official day as a Saint. pic.twitter.com/t2Dh7a51oQ

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) November 29, 2021

The Saints are also set to open their AFLW premiership campaign at Frankston Oval when the 2022 season begins.

With Morranbin unavailable until February due to a multimillion-dollar oval redevelopment, Saints chief executive Matt Finnis said the club was embracing the opportunity to connect with fans across its southern heartland.

“It’s exciting to add another chapter to our AFLW journey by returning Saints footy to the Frankston region,” Finnis said.

The full AFLW draw is expected to be released on Thursday.

New St Kilda players Oscar Adams, Josiah Kyle, Jack Peris, Marcus Windhager, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Mitch Owens. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Originally published as AFL: Jack Peris ices knee after heavy collision at St Kilda in front of mum Nova