LUKE Delaney has had a busy off-season since joining the Saints from North Melbourne with the defender proposing to his long-term girlfriend Carly at the weekend.

The pair has been dating for six years and knew each other as teenagers and Delaney was confident she would say yes despite Senior Coach Alan Richardson throwing a spanner in the works on the big day by calling him up to play in Sandringham’s practice match.

I was bit worried, I had teed it up for the Saturday knowing that we had the long weekend, the three day break, and I found out I had to play on Saturday so Richo put a bit of a spanner in the works!

The weather was probably better on Sunday so it ended up working in my favour was 99% sure she was going to say yes!

Despite having to change his plans at the last minute, the romantic gesture was pulled off without a hitch.

I planned it a while back. I’m originally from Geelong so we went back home and I made a big sign about 35 metres long, which said will you marry me. I got a few friends and family to go down to 13th beach and put it along the sand, he said.

I told the missus we were going for a bit of a joy flight in one of the tiger moths down there and I asked them to go right down near the sand so she could read it and then pulled out the ring in the plane.

It was pretty special having the friends and family down there as well.

Luke and Carly recently bought their first home together and join a handful of Saints soon to be married including Beau Maister and Sean Dempster.

Teammates Jimmy Gwilt and Leigh Montagna also tied the knot earlier this year.

Plans are yet to be made for the big day, but the couple says they’re looking forward to enjoying their engagement for now.

I’ll just take things as they come and enjoy it for now, and worry about that probably in another year or so.