News St Kilda to field standalone VFL team in 2026

[Nutsngum]

VFL players also have day jobs/are at uni so it will be dependent on availability as well.

 

[austinnn]

I spoke to a kid not long ago who was hoping to have a crack with our new VFL side. He was saying the promise to him was that once a week you train with the AFL boys and even when you don't, you're still training at Moorabbin right under the nose of the AFL coaches and recruiters. Not sure if that's the actual setup but that sounds like what he was told.

He said he knows he's unlikely to be good enough for AFL but there's still status associated with being in that semi-AFL environment, hanging out with Nas and the boys occasionally, and getting coached by Lenny Hayes and Brendon Goddard gives you a pretty good shot at making the most of your talent.

And you never know; look at Anthony Caminiti just a bloke on Carlton's VFL team doing his absolute best until he was noticed by a teammate whose dad was an AFL list manager. The rest is Hammer History.

If all those VFL players make their environment as competitive as our AFL team will be, we're going in the right direction.

The St Kilda VFL squad will be a bunch of AFL players burning to prove their coaches wrong and a bunch of ex-Ammos players burning to prove they can mix it with the AFL boys, coached by blokes who know exactly what it takes, right next to our AFL team, pushing them, holding them to the highest standards. Perfect environment

 

[akaifu]

 

[bergholt]

damn some of these lads have faces like dropped pies - love them tho

 

[The Jack]

Love twins.

 

[akaifu]

My bad lads, I tried

 

[austinnn]

How awesome does the original St Kilda tricolour look with the VFL logo in the corner? With the old school white cuffs, its definitely a classic look!

 

[bergholt]

How awesome does the original St Kilda tricolour look with the VFL logo in the corner? With the old school white cuffs, its definitely a classic look!

need to get Snowdeli to sponsor

 

[ScrappyDo]

damn some of these lads have faces like dropped pies - love them tho

I was thinking exactly the same.

 

[Sainttony]

Oh my god they are young

 

[ScrappyDo]

Oh my god they are young

Yes. It's the children's fault..

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

VFL signings c/- BM on SS -

Reeve Evans 18yo Mooroopna, old scotch, Oakleigh chargers
Position unknown
Ned Maginness 20yo 188cm Sandringham VFL
Midfielder
Billy McGee Galimberti 20yo 180cm GWS Giants VFL
Midfielder/Forward
Bailey McKenzie 19yo 192cm Sandringham VFL
Forward
Tyson McKenzie ???? Sea Lake Nandaly/strathfieldsaye
Position Unknown
Elwood Peckett 19yo 186cm Sandringham/Bonbeach
Midfielder/Forward
Jonah Campigli 21yo 189cm Sandringham VFL, old Brighton
Forward
Billy Richardson 20yo 195cm Sandringham VFL
Forwards/Wing
Jack Behnk 20yo 190cm Casey Demons/St Bedes Mentone
Forward

Now include Liam Gunson a HFF who made the VAFA team of the year and won his clubs B&F.

Whoever is doing the Saints VFL recruiting has been across a good spread of metro and country footy, hopefully that translates into a much more competitive side next season.

Bailey McKenzie played alot of games in the backline for Sandy zebs last year, only moved forward late.
Looked good in both roles though.

 

[stavro#4]

Feels like every signing is a forward.

 

[Remboy]

Feels like every signing is a forward.

Don't worry Stav, I'm sure we can transition them to the half back flank lol.

 

[Verdun66]

damn some of these lads have faces like dropped pies - love them tho

Some of these lads look like they belong in the old photos from the 30’s and 40’s!

 

[saint66au]

This Squad badly needs some AFL experience, or else its our kids plus a bunch of ex-Ammos and U/18 kids. Ie Sandy 2025 v2.0

 

[Significant]

This Squad badly needs some AFL experience, or else its our kids plus a bunch of ex-Ammos and U/18 kids. Ie Sandy 2025 v2.0

Someone made the point that you're not going to get announcements prior to the draft for existing AFL level talent, and there is little incentive for established VFL players to move across. Hopefully the Zac Jones of the world will put their hands up, but quite frankly I hope they don't. I think we have the necessary maturity in our list and someone like that is just taking a position away from some kid who may be motivated to make it.

 

[CaptainRisky]

I was thinking exactly the same.

 

[CaptainRisky]

Talk about a pile on pack of B1tches , lets see your photo's you handsome devils

Nah didn't think so

 

[bergholt]

Talk about a pile on pack of B1tches , lets see your photo's you handsome devils

Nah didn't think so

 

[CaptainRisky]

You wish

 

[CaptainRisky]

More like

 

[saint66au]

Someone made the point that you're not going to get announcements prior to the draft for existing AFL level talent, and there is little incentive for established VFL players to move across. Hopefully the Zac Jones of the world will put their hands up, but quite frankly I hope they don't. I think we have the necessary maturity in our list and someone like that is just taking a position away from some kid who may be motivated to make it.

I know the coaching structure s different this year, but last year Sandy had pretty much zero AFL experience in their VFL list and were barely competitive against the top VFL sides, especially when the Saints AFL injury list was long. You need some stand-up experienced leaders in that list, cant just rely on the AFL list to supply it.

 

[XhazzafootyX]

Feels like every signing is a forward.

How good is the sook from Garry under every st kilda post.

 

[Palantine]

Curious to how vocal us supporters will be on VFL GameDay especially at Moorabbin. I envisage a decent amount of barracking, and mild to moderate abuse, now made possible in Saints colours with Saints paid players. Tell me it’s going to happen? Sandy was no man’s land for both lots of supporters. The Saints VFL is an absolute cherry on top! Can’t wait.