With a mullet rivalling that of Jack Sinclair and a previous St Kilda connection through Rowan Marshall to boot, draftee James Van Es is right at home in red, white and black.
Get to know more about our newest defender, his ties to one of football’s biggest names and how he was unexpectedly involved in one of the game's greatest ever moments.
1. Buddy brilliant
Michael Willson may have captured one of football's most unbelievable photographs after Lance Franklin kicked his 1000th goal earlier this year, but look closer and you'll find a now-recognisable mullet in its foreground.
Van Es, who supported Sydney in his older years (coincidentally around the time Franklin moved to the Swans from the Hawks), decided to chance it with his mates and fly up to Sydney in the hopes of seeing Buddy reach the mythical milestone. It was a punt that paid off in the best way possible.
Despite a slipping to the deck early as fans stormed the ground, Van Es was still one of the first to surround Buddy as absolute scenes ensued at the SCG.
2. Holler for a Marshall
When Van Es’ name was called out at pick No. 31 on Tuesday night, Rowan Marshall was quick to pick up the phone.
The family-friends-turned-teammates have known each other for several years, with Van Es' mum best friends with Marshall's aunt.
The two first met when Marshall was studying in Ballarat and playing for the North Ballarat Roosters prior to his arrival at St Kilda, with Van Es following in his footsteps almost six years to the day later to join the red, white and black for himself.
3. What, the Duck?
He's been a part of one of football's biggest moments, but did you know he's also related to one of football's greatest names?
Van Es is a very distant relative of Wayne Carey, with his great-grandmother coming from the family bloodline.
While the new Saint doesn't got by 'Duck' or 'King', he does share a nickname with another football great, Stephen 'Sticks' Kernahan.
4. The Water Boy
Typically speaking, you make a representative side after various trials, a whole lot of training or an impressive body of previous work to your name.
Instead, Van Es was brought into the U15s V/Line Cup squad after recruiters were drawn to his tall frame while he running water for the local leagues in the lead-up to the tournament.
The eye-catching defender was swiftly brought in for trials, ultimately making the squad to put himself on talent scout maps for the first of what would be many times.
5. How’s the leap on him?
At 196cm, it’s only fair to expect Van Es has quite the set of springs on him.
But just how good they are stands in a league of its own, with the key defender soaring above his fellow draftees at this year’s combine with a record 98cm running vertical jump.
Van Es has the distance covered aerially, but also showed he isn’t too bad at ground-level with the fourth-best time in the 20m sprint coming in at 2.91 seconds.
