Just now, GS_1905 said:

What actually happened to Jack ? he was really good about 5 years ago?

It's what happened to the game. Same boat as Oliver and Mcrae.

Just now, GS_1905 said:

What actually happened to Jack ? he was really good about 5 years ago?

He's still pretty good! 2024 was his second best season.

The reason he's been pushed out is St Kilda just went berserk and have [censored] up their salary cap. They've just paid:

Nas 2 million

DeKoning 1.8 million

Flanders 1 million

Jack Silvagni 900k

Steele is on 900k, so has been pushed out. We've added one year onto his contract to smooth it down. Saints are also paying a chunk of his wage. For a future third rounder and wage contributed, this is one of the best trades by any club in recent memory. I was against it given he's an aging inside mid, but seeing how cheap we got him it's hard not to be pumped.

He's a better leader than anyone we've got at the club bar Gawn. Great to have some experience and leadership for the youngsters.

Welcome man of Steele!

If we had a hypothetical best 23 on the park would he be in it, feel like that is line ball next year but even more suspect after that as our younger players get more experience and we bring in more talent via trade or draft, got to think we want to get more mid time into players like Rivers, Langford, Lindsey and Windsor. Pickett and Viney would also be chosen before him to, he also doesn’t seem like that type that could play another role either.

Edited October 15, 2025Oct 15 by Garbo

38 minutes ago, Garbo said:

If we had a hypothetical best 23 on the park would he be in it, feel like that is line ball next year but even more suspect after that as our younger players get more experience and we bring in more talent via trade or draft, got to think we want to get more mid time into players like Rivers, Langford, Lindsey and Windsor. Pickett and Viney would also be chosen before him to, he also doesn’t seem like that type that could play another role either.

I was surprised to see he is only 29. So yes - he slots straight into Clarrys role.

5 hours ago, lorn said:

If he was still good they would of found a way to fit him into the cap

You are determined to cheapen this selection lorn.

Why not look at the pluses ?

29 yrs still playing good footy at Saints but just been relegated in their pecking order by younger types like Darcy Wilson and Nas.

Has been traded due to his experience to “ teach and mind” the kids. Harvey Duke Kolt and X plus any mid recruits.

Would be a natural VCapt and Leadership Group member now that Trac Clarry Gus etc. are no longer on our books.

Although he is not fast he still will be valuable as an inside midfielder just not when JV is in the middle though.

Not sure what other positions he can pinch hit in but will be surprised if he is not a one trick pony. Time will tell.

Actually wanted to come to Dees rather than try to stay at Saints at this stage of his career. With their recent recruitment that is a big plus.

So he is a very solid citizen who I think has attained AA stays in the 20’s.

4 hours ago, In Gawn we Trust said:

Agree on all of that.

Also this might just be me, but I lowkey see this as a long winded Brayshaw replacement. Versatile, leader, good culture guy and by all reports just a good human being. All of which Gus brought in spades

You have nailed it Gawny.

I posted just now that he will be a leadership group member and his experience takes Gus Clarry and Trac’s nurturing role plus could be a VC along with JV. Brilliant choice and watch these kids on the middle love their work now!!!

We've just lost a combined 51 average disposals (as inefficient as they were) a week (23 for Trac,28 for clarry). Steele (avg 23) maybe keeps the dam wall from busting during this rebuild. Seems like a good leader who might help Max fly the flag!

17 minutes ago, BillyBeane said:

We've just lost a combined 51 average disposals (as inefficient as they were) a week (23 for Trac,28 for clarry). Steele (avg 23) maybe keeps the dam wall from busting during this rebuild.

Straight out of Moneyball!

Now we just need to find another 28. 4 extra per game from 7 players?

5 hours ago, Garbo said:

If we had a hypothetical best 23 on the park would he be in it, feel like that is line ball next year but even more suspect after that as our younger players get more experience and we bring in more talent via trade or draft, got to think we want to get more mid time into players like Rivers, Langford, Lindsey and Windsor. Pickett and Viney would also be chosen before him to, he also doesn’t seem like that type that could play another role either.

Yeah he’s definitely still in our best side. I don’t think his output would be dissimilar to Clayton Oliver. He just has way better defensive habits, leadership and character. We don’t need him to be a superstar, just to play a role.

Steve king comes from the cats where atkins is the tackle king, I suspect we’ve bought in Steele to play the same role, tackle, defend and allow guys like kozzie and rivers to get after the game.

The impact Steele is going to have on the development of our young guys will be powerful especially now we’re going to likely have 4 more first rounders in the next 2 years

This is a steal! 🤣

Love Steele as a player so welcome him to the red and blue.

That said, I have fingers crossed he’s in good repair physically. Has been known to power through injury and (although my memory is hazy as to exactly when) seem to remember him having a shoulder that was popping out? Hope he’s on top of it and viney has been made fully aware so as to not break him during preseason training.

Looking forward to seeing you in the thick of it round one Jack ❤️💙

Welcome Jack.

The Cats have probably been the best at managing the work loads of the more mature players over recent years. Let’s hope king brings that with him and helps us get the most out of both our midfield Jacks

His last two years have been the 2nd and 3rd highest in his career for clearances and he also pretty much played full seasons too, so he’s still firing and getting on the park. Others have mentioned it but getting him to teach/coach the younger guys during games is a huge plus.

56 minutes ago, BoBo said:

His last two years have been the 2nd and 3rd highest in his career for clearances and he also pretty much played full seasons too, so he’s still firing and getting on the park. Others have mentioned it but getting him to teach/coach the younger guys during games is a huge plus.

This. He's still playing good tough footy. His clearance and tackle numbers are better than any of our mids, including Clarry in his current form. He's durable, reliable, and a leader.

I've really come around to this trade. Stoked!

Steele is also a better kick than Viney, Trac and Clarry, and can defend to a high level, so it's definitely net win from and around stoppage, and in transition.

Jack Steele is 29? Thought he was 31.

That's another plus!

5 hours ago, bing181 said:

Straight out of Moneyball!

Now we just need to find another 28. 4 extra per game from 7 players?

Haha i had this exact scene in mind! Recreate them in the aggregate!

9 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

He's still pretty good! 2024 was his second best season.

The reason he's been pushed out is St Kilda just went berserk and have [censored] up their salary cap. They've just paid:

Nas 2 million

DeKoning 1.8 million

Flanders 1 million

Jack Silvagni 900k

Steele is on 900k, so has been pushed out. We've added one year onto his contract to smooth it down. Saints are also paying a chunk of his wage. For a future third rounder and wage contributed, this is one of the best trades by any club in recent memory. I was against it given he's an aging inside mid, but seeing how cheap we got him it's hard not to be pumped.

He's a better leader than anyone we've got at the club bar Gawn. Great to have some experience and leadership for the youngsters.

Welcome man of Steele!

Spot on.

Someone in the media (Tom Morris, maybe) suggested that Steele and Lyon may not have been seeing eye to eye. That's hardly surprising - Lyon is known to be polarising with some players loving him and others struggling to fit in with his approach. If that was the case, Steele's performance in the past couple of years may have waned because of that souring of the relationship.

Saints mate says big upgrade on Billings.

He compared him to similar role as Josh Dunkley.

Great tackler. Tough.

Great role model too and will be a good mentor.

I am very optimistic about Steele, fits the new coaches philosophy.

Also very happy with picking up Jack Steele, I feel that Jack and Brody will both help bolster the leadership gap that has existed since we lost Gus, BBB and ANB. Leaders are undervalued in the Hurley burly of AFL but we all know how important good - great leaders are in business and sport and when you couple it with good citizen / character types the whole team benefits, particularly the young as many have pointed out in this thread. Jack Steele a real Steal.👍😁

9 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

I was surprised to see he is only 29. So yes - he slots straight into Clarrys role.

the role that no longer exists? that started this whole thing?

1 hour ago, Roy Boy said:

Saints mate says big upgrade on Billings.

He compared him to similar role as Josh Dunkley.

Great tackler. Tough.

Great role model too and will be a good mentor.

I feel so much better thinking about koltyn under Steeles mentorship than I did with hanging with Clayton. Very keen to find out jumper numbers for locker buddy dynamics

I think jack will quickly become a fan favourite, tough like viney, but a touch more "x factor/class" (for want of a better word).

Always respected him from afar, cant wait to see him in the red and blue.