News St Kilda to field standalone VFL team in 2026

[The Jack]

Given enough away

Is it some kind of secret?

 

[Mat Mann]

Secret VFL business. This is the real reason we bigfooty

 

[stavro#4]

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Is it some kind of secret?

Not really just look at playhq

 

[akaifu]

A few young lads attracting the attention of StKilda from AFL Outer East. Young fella polled well in Division one the other 50 plus goals.
Both 21.

Taylor Gibson?

 

[The Jack]

Not really just look at playhq

No idea what that is. Why not just say. Strange.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Never heard of him, but Good luck to ya.

 

[stavro#4]

Campigli has signed for us

He agreed to terms on Monday, delighting St Kilda but disappointing Sandringham.

The 189cm forward finished third in the Zebras’ best and fairest this year, booting 21 goals from 16 matches.

In 2024, playing for Old Brighton, he was judged the VAFA’s Rising Star.

He was part of OB’s historic Premier flag this year.

Aside from Campigli, the Saints have also secured 2025 Zebras Bailey McKenzie, Billy Richardson, Ned Maginness and Elwood Peckett

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Campigli has signed for us

Sandy zebs wont be pleased.

 

[stavro#4]

Sandy zebs wont be pleased.

Pretty sure there is nothing left talent wise there

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Campigli has signed for us

He agreed to terms on Monday, delighting St Kilda but disappointing Sandringham.

The 189cm forward finished third in the Zebras’ best and fairest this year, booting 21 goals from 16 matches.

In 2024, playing for Old Brighton, he was judged the VAFA’s Rising Star.

He was part of OB’s historic Premier flag this year.

Aside from Campigli, the Saints have also secured 2025 Zebras Bailey McKenzie, Billy Richardson, Ned Maginness and Elwood Peckett

Elwood Peckett, cool
Didn't get to see him much this year, may of been injured?

 

[BrutThough]

Campigli has signed for us

He agreed to terms on Monday, delighting St Kilda but disappointing Sandringham.

The 189cm forward finished third in the Zebras’ best and fairest this year, booting 21 goals from 16 matches.

In 2024, playing for Old Brighton, he was judged the VAFA’s Rising Star.

He was part of OB’s historic Premier flag this year.

Aside from Campigli, the Saints have also secured 2025 Zebras Bailey McKenzie, Billy Richardson, Ned Maginness and Elwood Peckett

Thrilled with that. Campigli and Maginness were two of the better Sandy listed players.

It's good to see the club/coaches did enough that they want to join our new program.

 

[stavro#4]

Thrilled with that. Campigli and Maginness were two of the better Sandy listed players.

It's good to see the club/coaches did enough that they want to join our new program.

And all will be at training next week.

So what’s that 7 signed from Sandy now?

Wouldn’t mind a development tall to be signed for us

 

[BrutThough]

And all will be at training next week.

So what’s that 7 signed for Sandy now?

Wouldn’t mind a development tall to be signed for them

Hopefully one of those mystery players that wont be named is a tall

 

[stavro#4]

“Great kid … he was my first recruit down at Sandy last year,’’ St Kilda coach Brendon Goddard said of Campigli.

“He improved significantly throughout the year with some of the raw talent he had and from our end was really valuable. To finish third in the best and fairest for a team affiliated with an AFL club is a pretty strong performance.

“He’s diligent in playing his role and he competes very well, so he’s got some really strong attributes that we think is a good crossover to the AFL, his athleticism and his ability to play multiple roles and he’s a good athlete.’’

Goddard added: “He’s a triple threat in the forward half — he can mark overhead, he can mark on the lead, he follows up at ground level. He tackles too. That game against the Bulldogs (when Campigli kicked five goals) highlighted his flexibility, because he actually played more as a high half-forward, a transition forward.’’

 

[XhazzafootyX]

hard to see Sandy winning a game next year

 

[SaintWrld]

Idk why do clubs like the Dees get players like Riley Bonner

36

Riley Bonner

Age

28

Ht

190cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.2

4star

K

12.1

4star

HB

5.2

4star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.4

3star

MG

279.8

4star

D

12.3

3star

K

10.3

4star

HB

2.0

1star

M

3.5

3star

T

1.3

2star

MG

279.8

4star

D

21.4

5star

K

14.0

5star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.0

4star

and Mitch Hardie as top up recruits who dominate at state league level, and we are struggling to sign the same below average players that had Sandy as easy beats this year. We should be aiming a lot higher than campigli and maginness

 

[Significant]

Idk why do clubs like the Dees get players like Riley Bonner and Mitch Hardie as top up recruits who dominate at state league level, and we are struggling to sign the same below average players that had Sandy as easy beats this year. We should be aiming a lot higher than campigli and maginness

They're also not going to contribute to the endeavours of the Melbourne FC. I'm fine with the strategy we are taking. Can't expect entrenched mature talent running around at other VFL clubs to shift to a first year mob, and likewise I'd rather get young guys in who might make it as a pathway, and surround them with the AFL listed players and rely on them to be the mature players who are driving culture, standards and results (not mature VFL listed talent).

 

[SaintWrld]

They're also not going to contribute to the endeavours of the Melbourne FC. I'm fine with the strategy we are taking. Can't expect entrenched mature talent running around at other VFL clubs to shift to a first year mob, and likewise I'd rather get young guys in who might make it as a pathway, and surround them with the AFL listed players and rely on them to be the mature players who are driving culture, standards and results (not mature VFL listed talent).

I get what you mean in a sense, but watching sandy this year, they were woeful. If you remove the now defunct northern bullants, then they would have been wooden spooners. I just think having a stronger side would be better for development than getting flogged every week.

 

[maanco]

I get what you mean in a sense, but watching sandy this year, they were woeful. If you remove the now defunct northern bullants, then they would have been wooden spooners. I just think having a stronger side would be better for development than getting flogged every week.

We have AFL Depth, hopefully that helps to prevent the floggings.

 

[SG34]

I wish Sandy the best as an independent VFL team. I hope they survive. It doesn’t help that they lost several players (are we talking 5+ ?) to St Kilda’s seconds.
I’m also relieved and happy that red, white and black has a seconds team. One day, maybe a curtain raiser? Or an AFLW curtain raiser?

But my question here is this.
With so many Sandy players coming across, I ask, ‘Why bother?’
Why would a player want to be VFL listed?

To have a crack at AFL ala Max Hall?
Fair enough. But low odds.

Wouldn’t they be better going for an independent VFL team, amateurs, country leagues or interstate?
Money can’t be good.

Is it access to the facilities? And environment?

 

[SaintSteele9]

I wish Sandy the best as an independent VFL team. I hope they survive. It doesn’t help that they lost several players (are we talking 5+ ?) to St Kilda’s seconds.
I’m also relieved and happy that red, white and black has a seconds team. One day, maybe a curtain raiser? Or an AFLW curtain raiser?

But my question here is this.
With so many Sandy players coming across, I ask, ‘Why bother?’
Why would a player want to be VFL listed?

To have a crack at AFL ala Max Hall?
Fair enough. But low odds.

Wouldn’t they be better going for an independent VFL team, amateurs, country leagues or interstate?
Money can’t be good.

Is it access to the facilities? And environment?

Saints facilities, coaching staff and club alignment have to be big factors. Perhaps relationships with Goddard already also?

Sandy are in for a world of hurt and it would be bloody hard yards to excel and put your name up in that setting I suspect. No sure thing Saints ressies are any good immediately either, but the reasons above probably the main separator

 

[SG34]

Saints facilities, coaching staff and club alignment have to be big factors. Perhaps relationships with Goddard already also?

Sandy are in for a world of hurt and it would be bloody hard yards to excel and put your name up in that setting I suspect. No sure thing Saints ressies are any good immediately either, but the reasons above probably the main separator

The Sandy vs St Kilda Ressies game in 2026 has all the makings of a fair dinkum fierce local derby laced with historical menace. This could be a local cult ‘grudge match’. There is blood in the water. Worth going to.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Idk why do clubs like the Dees get players like Riley Bonner and Mitch Hardie as top up recruits who dominate at state league level, and we are struggling to sign the same below average players that had Sandy as easy beats this year. We should be aiming a lot higher than campigli and maginness

C'mon, Riley Bonner 28y.o was a nuisance for us. Could get plenty of the footy, but was a turnover Harry.
With Campigli & Maguiness etc. we are inviting them to develope in an elite system.
They are younger than a Bonner or Hardie.
So, more room for improvement.

 

[SaintWrld]

C'mon, Riley Bonner 28y.o was a nuisance for us. Could get plenty of the footy, but was a turnover Harry.
With Campigli & Maguiness etc. we are inviting them to develope in an elite system.
They are younger than a Bonner or Hardie.
So, more room for improvement.

I don’t think our VFL team exists to develop average state league players like Campigli and Maginess, our VFL team exists to develop the AFL level players on our list.
Having a strong VFL side benefits their development, see box hill and hawthorn. It isn’t just the dees and the two players I mentioned, Carlton picked up Ethan Phillips and Grainger-Barrass last year fresh off AFL lists just for an example. A few senior bodies to guide the 18-22 year olds is important. I would hate to be a developing forward like in our reserves side, how frustrating it must be.