Home

AFL 2021: Jack Steele named St Kilda Saints co-captain alongside Jarryn Geary

Anna HarringtonThe West Australian
VideoAFL great receives truly special surprise

St Kilda have turned to AFL co-captains for the first time in 14 years with gun midfielder Jack Steele elevated to the role alongside Jarryn Geary.

Steele, 25, takes on the role after a standout 2020 season, where he was named All-Australian and won the Saints best and fairest in the club’s return to finals football.

The Saints last had multiple captains when Lenny Hayes, Nick Riewoldt and Luke Ball shared the role in 2007.

Jarryn Geary and Jack Steele are co-captains at St Kilda.
Camera IconJarryn Geary and Jack Steele are co-captains at St Kilda. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“I’m really grateful to have been given this honour, it’s a true privilege,“ Steele said.

“When you walk through the Hall of Fame at RSEA Park and see names like Frawley, Harvey, Barker and Baldock, it’s really humbling to now be continuing their legacy.

The Game AFL 2024

“To have ’Gears’ alongside me is also really special. He’s really taken me under his wing, and I’ve learned so much from him since joining the club.

“His leadership is second to none, not just his voice on-field, but also how he rallies the group off it.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to learn from him, while also getting stuck into all the responsibilities of being an AFL captain.”

The captaincy is Steele’s first leadership role since joining the Saints from GWS at the end of 2016, while it is Geary’s fifth season in the job.

Geary said he had been in regular discussions with Steele about the midfielder taking on a leadership role at the Saints.

Dougal Howard and Tim Membrey have been named vice-captains while Seb Ross, Jack Billings and Callum Wilkie complete the leadership group.

“Jarryn has been huge, as has David Rath and Jarryd Roughead, in really driving our values and standards among the players,” coach Brett Ratten said.

“He’s been a fantastic captain for many years and the fact he was voted in again is testament to how his teammates feel about him.

“The addition of Jack is a nice balance and it really shows the direction this group is heading moving forward, which is really exciting.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails