Two lifelong St Kilda supporters are the latest players to sign with the Southern Saints ahead of their first season in the
After narrowly missing out on being drafted last month, Sandringham Dragons pair, Isabel Quintal and Georgia Ricardo, put pen to paper on Tuesday, becoming the fourth and fifth players to commit to the Saints for 2018.
“I barrack for St Kilda so it was a no-brainer for me," Quintal told saints.com.au after signing with the club on Tuesday.
"The club has always been involved in my life; my Dad and I bond over St Kilda like no tomorrow."
Ricardo was born into a St Kilda family and has experienced all the ups and downs associated with following the red, white and black.
She was there in 2009 and again in 2010. And now she is one step closer to playing for her beloved Saints at the highest level.
“I’ve also been a St Kilda supporter since I was a kid; I’ve been a member since I was about two and been going to games ever since then. My family all love St Kilda,” Ricardo said.
“Having the chance to be asked to come down to St Kilda was something that really caught me; it’s something I wasn’t expecting and something I feel privileged to experience.”
Quintal vividly recalls the drawn grand final in 2010 and the replay a week later. She remembers her Dad screaming and crying at the final siren, in what was another St Kilda moment that they have bonded over, just like this one.
“I’ve never seen my Dad scream so much in my life and I’ve never seen him cry so much in my life either, especially at the end. It was an amazing experience, despite the eventual result; it’s something I’ll never forget,” she said.
The disappointment of being overlooked in this year’s AFLW Draft is driving the 18-year-old pair, with both girls determined to make the most of entering an elite environment at the Saints.
“We both were pretty close this year and just missed out, so we will be aiming next year or the year after,” Ricardo said,
“We want to use this opportunity is a stepping stone to increase our knowledge around everything from skills to nutrition to conditioning,” Quintal added.
With St Kilda granted a license to enter the AFLW competition in 2020, both Quintal and Ricardo, who are only just old enough to have drivers licenses of their own, are edging closer towards their dream.
