Jack, Channy welcome to the third edition of Saints Spotlight! Thank you both for joining me today. To kick things off for us, what have you both ordered from Linton Street today?
Jack: Large Flat White
Channy: Skinny Ice Latte
Tell us about your journey to be working at the Saints?
Jack: I started with the Saints in 2021, doing a year of placement with AFL SportsReady while studying for a certificate in IT at Chisolm Institute. After that year, I was fortunate to be kept on for another year of work experience, and then I was offered a full-time contract – so I must have been doing something right! I've been with the Saints for about three and a half years now.
It was always a bit of a twist of fate, as I've been a lifelong Saints supporter. I'm so grateful to be able to align my two passions: St Kilda and technology.
Channy: My path was similar to Jack’s. I studied a Diploma of Sport and Diploma of Event Management through the Holmesglen-Saints Sports Program, and I was lucky enough to land my placement as a property assistant in the football department, supporting the players at training and assisting with equipment on game day.
After my placement, I secured a position with the AFLW program as property manager before I’d even graduated, which was pretty cool. Each season, my role has grown with more responsibilities, and now I work in operations full-time across both the men’s and women’s programs at the Saints.
I first started placement in 2021, so I’m coming up to three years here. Like Jack, I also grew up supporting the Saints, a pure coincidence I’ve ended up here with my course being connected to the club.
Could you give us a quick rundown of your roles?
Jack: My main job is to fix IT issues as they pop up across the business, whether it's in membership, the football department, or anywhere in between. You could say I'm a foot soldier for the IT team!
Most mornings, our team meets to make a game plan for the day. There’s always a lot to cover for a team of three. The rest of my day involves receiving requests and tickets from staff and working to solve those problems as they come in.
Channy: My role covers everything that happens off-field in our football department, from training to game day. Whether it’s handling property, equipment, uniforms, travel, venue coordination, player appearances, functions, camps, or scheduling - Gemma (Football Operations and Logistics Lead) and I probably have a hand in it.
On game days, it's all about setup. If we’re playing interstate or away, we're responsible for transporting all the property, setting up, managing timings, liaising with match day managers and the opposition team and making sure we’re in the right place at the right time. During games, I help manage the interchange for the AFLW team, while Gemma handles property management in the rooms. For the men’s season, we swap these roles.
After the game, hopefully with a win, we pack everything up, head back to the club, and start preparing for the next week!
What’s one thing that would surprise people about your role?
Jack: If I had to pick one thing, it would be the sheer amount of technology that we prepare to travel to games each week. We usually fill about six cases weighing around 30kg each, which Gemma and Channy then transport. This includes two printers—one colour and one black-and-white!
Channy: Most people are surprised that each player only has two guernseys. Often, on Mondays, Gemma and I spend hours scrubbing paint and dirt out of the jumpers so they’re spotless and ready for the next game!
Quick-fire round! What comes to mind when you hear these words?
Channy:
- Linton St: Coffee
- Premiership: Soon
- Sherrin: Red
- Lyon: Rizz
- Dal Santo: Dad jokes
Jack:
- Linton St: Café
- Premiership: 2025
- Sherrin: Pigskin
- Lyon: Boss
- Dal Santo: Shorts and blazer
