The inclusion of three younger players in St Kilda’s 2017 leadership group is important for the future growth of the football club, says Saints leader Mav Weller.
Weller, who was included in the leadership group for the third consecutive year along with Jack Newnes, was part of a new-look eight-man group that comprises Dylan Roberton, Josh Bruce and Seb Ross for the first time.
With Jarryn Geary taking over as captain from Nick Riewoldt, St Kilda has begun a new era of leadership ahead of the 2017 season, which is now only 43 days away.
“Over the last few years we’ve identified that there’s a lot of young players coming through and it’s important to give some opportunities to some of the younger blokes,” Weller told saints.com.au this week.
“Over the last few years, a few blokes have been added and the same this year with Josh, Seb and Dylan, which is fantastic for the group.”
Weller said the Saints new skipper was someone everyone at the club trusts wholeheartedly to get the job done, on the track and on the ground.
“I think Gears is just someone you can look at and know that you can trust him; the way he goes about his footy; the way he trains and prepares and then the way he plays,” Geary said.
“He sacrifices his body and trains so hard, you know what you’re going to get out of him.
“Everybody on our list trusts him to do his job, to put his body on the line and to lead strongly.”
