On 16/10/2025 at 11:12, Demons11 said:

The 1st positive thing he has said about us all year

Kane feigning moving on...

24 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Kane feigning moving on...

What distribution of gears does the Kanemobile have?

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Well that was refreshing, happy and straightforward.

We exchanged a boy of Clay(ton) for a man of Steele!

8 hours ago, Dee Dee said:

This has something of a Daniel Cross feel to it. Good bloke, excellent trainer, good to have around our younger players.

Excellent comparison.

Another that comes to mind is James McDonald - a solid citizen who does the basics consistently well and works super hard. Like Steele, a leader.

There's an interesting parallel in the shameful, not to mention plain stupid, way we treated Junior

Heart and soul players, leaders that positively contribute to their club's culture, and both captains.

We essentially forced Junior to retire and the Saints basically forced Steele to leave.

Crazy stuff.

King is doing the complete opposite - instead of moving on leaders and culture builders he's getting rid of two senior players who, in recent seasons, have not been great for the culture and bringing in a senior player who will be.

Steele is a dual All-Australian and has won two best and fairest awards. He served as St Kilda co-captain in 2021, and as the sole captain from 2022 to 2025.

Exactly the sort of player we need as we look to rebuild our culture.

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by binman

Sounds like Richo may have been the glue to get that deal sorted. You forget he was Jacks coach for 3 or 4 years.

47 minutes ago, binman said:

Excellent comparison.

Another that comes to mind is James McDonald - a solid citizen who does the basics consistently well and works super hard. Like Steele, a leader.

There's an interesting parallel in the shameful, not to mention plain stupid, way we treated Junior

Heart and soul players, leaders that positively contribute to their club's culture, and both captains.

We essentially forced Junior to retire and the Saints basically forced Steele to leave.

Crazy stuff.

King is doing the complete opposite - instead of moving on leaders and culture builders he's getting rid of two senior players who, in recent seasons, have not been great for the culture and bringing in a senior player who will be.

Steele is a dual All-Australian and has won two best and fairest awards. He served as St Kilda co-captain in 2021, and as the sole captain from 2022 to 2025.

Exactly the sort of player we need as we look to rebuild our culture.

Agree 100%. To put things in perspective for Dees fans, Nathan Jones was dominant for years in terrible Melbourne teams and never got an All Australian. This guy has been an All Australian twice. This isn't a slight on Jonesy - it's more to indicate that yes he brings a lot of leadership qualities... but also he's been a damn good player. And young enough to have solid years left ahead of him. 2nd for clearances and contested possessions at the saints this year (to Macrae) - he will be very handy for us!

I'm not sure there is enough being spoken about stkilda trading their captain.

I know he was told to explore his options but this was a captain & hearing from some saints fans they are gutted.

31 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

I'm not sure there is enough being spoken about stkilda trading their captain.

I know he was told to explore his options but this was a captain & hearing from some saints fans they are gutted.

Yeah they were definitely able to keep it all pretty quiet when they were really pushing him out.

Jack seems like a top bloke.

I heard he's not a particularly demonstrative leader, but he seems to just ooze class and respectability. And we have other blokes who are more demonstrative if needed.

But wowee, what have St Kilda done to their culture?

If I was a St Kilda player prior to this year, I'd be thinking WTF.

5 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Jack seems like a top bloke.

I heard he's not a particularly demonstrative leader, but he seems to just ooze class and respectability. And we have other blokes who are more demonstrative if needed.

But wowee, what have St Kilda done to their culture?

If I was a St Kilda player prior to this year, I'd be thinking WTF.

All feels like a Ross Lyon vanity play- I want my flag and I want it now!

5 minutes ago, binman said:

All feels like a Ross Lyon vanity play- I want my flag and I want it now!

Which might have some more validity if he was bringing in a host of genuine A graders.

He's maxing out their cap with BOG average, at best, B graders.

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

Interesting to see Paul Guerra there.

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by bing181

2 hours ago, rpfc said:

Sounds like Richo may have been the glue to get that deal sorted. You forget he was Jacks coach for 3 or 4 years.

Perhaps also Jared Rivers.

I’ve switched 180 deg. on this one, based on the combined wisdom of many fellow Demonlanders. I now think Jack Steele is a great pickup. Thanks guys!

2 hours ago, rpfc said:

Sounds like Richo may have been the glue to get that deal sorted. You forget he was Jacks coach for 3 or 4 years.

I think yesterday he also specifically mentioned the attraction of working with Nathan Jones?

My mum is a mad insane Saints fan - goes every week and has for 50 years or more. She’s gutted. This is fabulous for quality and depth.

46 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Perhaps also Jared Rivers.

I'm sure King was pretty important too.

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Interesting to see Paul Guera there.

More interesting that Steven king doesn’t seem to be. I mean I’m sure it’s nothing but I’d have imagined he would be

22 minutes ago, 1964nowMORE said:

My mum is a mad insane Saints fan - goes every week and has for 50 years or more. She’s gutted. This is fabulous for quality and depth.

Get her over.

She's got good reason now.

15 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

I'm sure King was pretty important too.

I don't believe King ever worked with him at St Kilda, King was there before Steele arrived.

3 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

More interesting that Steven king doesn’t seem to be. I mean I’m sure it’s nothing but I’d have imagined he would be

Not really. Draft day yes, but that's more for the optics and photo opps. I don't believe I've ever seen Tim Lamb in the coaches' box.

From images and vids I've seen around the place, I don't think any of the coaches were present. Not their remit.

3 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Not really. Draft day yes, but that's more for the optics and photo opps. I don't believe I've ever seen Tim Lamb in the coaches' box.

From images and vids I've seen around the place, I don't think any of the coaches were present. Not their remit.

That’s fair enough!

20 hours ago, BoBo said:

And if we lose Max/McDonald/May/Melksham during or at the end of this season, we will need Steele for his proven leadership capabilities.

18 hours ago, bing181 said:

You might be writing Max off prematurely, especially as he has a contract for the next 2 seasons.

A real vendetta against the letter M from Bobo, there. Worse than my 'Sams only' drafting and recruiting strategy for 2025-2030.

Gawn will stay on until at least the 2028 premiership.

2 hours ago, dees189227 said:

I'm not sure there is enough being spoken about stkilda trading their captain.

I know he was told to explore his options but this was a captain & hearing from some saints fans they are gutted.

Somewhere between the reassuring earnestness of James McDonald and the indomitable will of Nathan Jones. That's a relationship with fans that takes a decade to build and now St Kilda's success or failure relies entirely on the performance of imports on inflated contracts, and Wanganeen-Milera fulfilling his apparent destiny as the vorpal blade incarnate.

Meanwhile, Jackson Macrae, brought in by St Kilda just one season ago as a 31yr old slowing but dependable midfielder, must think the world has gone mad.