The handful of Sandringham Zebras VFL players in frame for St Kilda AFL rookie spot
St Kilda will follow through on its plan for a Sandringham Zebra to become a Sainter this year as part of an initiative to improve their alignment - though it’s slim pickings for a rookie-list option.
It won’t exactly be spoiled for choice, but St Kilda will go ahead with its commitment to rookie-list a player from its VFL affiliate Sandringham.
The Saints confirmed they would follow through on their announcement last October that a Zebra would become a Sainter at the end of 2024 as part of an initiative to improve their alignment.
The decision to draft a VFL player was expected to lead to an influx of AFL hopefuls to Sandy and strengthen their list this year.
But they again missed the finals – jarringly for a club so accustomed to success, they last saw in September in 2016 – none of their players were picked for the state game against the SANFL or the VFL team of the year, and no Zebra has been talked up as a draft prospect.
It’s left St Kilda with a thin field for the rookie-list position.
Co-captain Darby Hipwell has been a consistent midfielder for Sandringham and averaged 18.9 possessions this year. His best performance came in Round 20, with 33 touches against Richmond.
The 22-year-old left-footer, a Vic Metro Under 16 representative, won the best and fairest last year.
Midfielder-forward Blake Watson, 25, would be a mature-age pick. He’s hard and tough, and could improve sharply with an AFL pre-season.
Tall forward Will Vesely, 22, missed half the season with injury but has showed sparks of potential with his marking. He brought in eight grabs and kicked three goals against the Northern Bullants in Round 5.
Vesely has a link to St Kilda: he is the brother of AFLW Saint Olivia Vesely.
Ollie Lowe, 22, has also at times displayed above-average ability. He kicked 15 goals and averaged 13.8 disposals from 17 matches and, like Vesely, arrived at the Zebras via the Sandringham Dragons.
Hugo Hall-Kahan, a mid-season draft signing with Sydney two years ago, joined the Zebras this year but reached no great heights, kicking 14 goals and averaging 13.3 possessions.
The Zebras signed Old Brighton’s Max Benier ahead of the mid-season draft, prompting speculation St Kilda was keen on him. He played in rounds 8 and 9 but didn’t appear again until Round 21.
The 190cm defender figured in Old Brighton’s grand final team against Old Scotch last Friday. “He’s got a massive leap. He’s really quick, agile and the footy stuff is definitely improving,’’ Old Brighton champion Harry Hill said of Benier.
Lachie Voss, 199cm, caught the eye in his only VFL appearance but unfortunately for the Saints, he is not a Sandringham-listed player; he was playing as an over-ager with Sandringham Dragons.
The Zebras recruited Will Brown and Tarkyn O’Leary after their premiership-winning 2023 seasons with the Dragons but both had little impact, with Brown playing five games and O’Leary eight.
Sandringham and St Kilda must appoint a new VFL coach for 2025 after Jake Batchelor’s departure to Richmond. Former Demon and Cat Jared Rivers is being linked with the role.
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