Before St Kilda selected Jarryn Geary in the Rookie Draft at the end of 2006, 145 other players found homes at AFL clubs. But before the recruiting gates slammed shut for another year, the hard working Bendigo Pioneers product snuck in the door. Now, he has turned the key in a door that very few players ever do.

The former rookie has been unveiled as the 62^nd Captain of St Kilda Football Club, ascending to the throne left vacant by the clubs longest serving skipper, Nick Riewoldt, after 11 seasons at the helm.

After 141 games across a decade in the game, Geary has been moulded by a journey that has forced him to earn every opportunity. Having almost been overlooked by every club, the 28-year-old says he has never taken any part of his time in the game for granted, fighting for every game and every chance along the way.

“I’ve just never really taken anything for granted,” Geary told saints.com.au in his first official interview as St Kilda Captain.

“When you get taken as a rookie you’ve only got one chance to show what you’ve got, you’ve got a one-year contract and you’ve got to fight tooth and nail to keep your spot the following year.

“I think I’ve done that with my footy every year; I’m a pretty competitive person and hate to be beaten.

“I never set a goal to be an AFL captain; every week I gave myself the opportunity to perform really strongly by fighting tooth and nail to win my position.

“Things come your way every now and then, you don’t set out to achieve them but I’m really honoured to be here now.”

Having spent almost the duration of his career under the guidance of club champion Riewoldt, Geary says he will also take learnings from former greats in Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and dual Brownlow medallist, Robert Harvey.

“‘Rooey’ has been basically my captain the whole time I’ve been here, but I’ve played with some great leaders like Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo, I spent a year or two from Robert Harvey; I’ve learnt a lot from those guys and I’ll take bits and pieces away from them,” Geary said.

“But I’ll try and be myself the whole time and hopefully I’ve been put in the role for that very reason, but I’ll take bits and pieces from them for sure.”