St Kilda appoint Jarryn Geary as captain for third straight season

Sporting News

St Kilda appoint Jarryn Geary as captain for third straight season image

St Kilda have named Jarryn Geary as the club's captain for the third consecutive season as part of a five-man leadership group.

Midfielder Seb Ross was selected as his deputy, while Tim Membrey, Dan Hannebery and Dylan Robertson complete the new-look group.

After two years at the helm, Saints coach Alan Richardson said that Geary continues to impress the club with his dedication and is well-respected by the players.

MORE: St Kilda Saints recruit Dan Hannebery picks up hamstring issue | Collingwood stars Jack Crisp and Will Hoskin-Elliott ink long-term contract extensions

“Gears has great balance in his leadership,” Richardson told the club's website.

“He is able to be really challenging of the group and at the same time be very supportive of his teammates.

"I haven’t seen any player in my time in coaching who so regularly sacrifices himself for the team.

“On game day, and at training he sets the standard for the way in which we want to play and train.

“We’ve brought in a lot of experienced coaches to our football department, and one of the most consistent early impressions has been how strong a leader he is.”

View this post on Instagram

Introducing our leaders for 2019 💥

A post shared by St Kilda Football Club (@stkildafc) on

Although Hannebery is yet to make his debut for the Saints, the former Swans midfielder has already made a profound impact upon his new club.

The left-footer played 208 games at Sydney, including the 2012 premiership, and was contracted for a further three seasons before being traded to Moorabbin.

Signing a five-year deal with St Kilda, the club have wasted no time in putting his expertise to the test.

“Dan is an extremely experienced leader who has had immediate impact since joining us late last year," Richardson continued.

"Having a player with such strong football knowledge, who is also so generous in the time he gives to his teammates, is a real asset to the football club."

ST KILDA SAINTS 2019: Fixtures, preview, list changes, every player and odds

While star recruit Hannebery has been included in the club's new-look leadership group, four-time best and fairest Jack Steven and wingman Jack Newnes have been omitted.

Despite spending his entire career at Moorabbin and playing a significant role in the leadership group since 2016, Steven's omission may come as a surprise for some.

Newnes, on the other hand, struggled through last season after a major knee injury setback.

“Jack and Jack lead through their actions both on and off the field,” Richardson said.

“While they will not play an official leadership role this year, their influence on the group is still really strong and I have no doubt that will continue.”

Saint Kilda will kick off their season against the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday, March 24 at Marvel Stadium.

Sporting News

Sporting News Photo

The sports world explained. The Sporting News goes beyond the score to deliver the news, data, insights and entertainment that sports fans around the globe need to know.