Saints listed youngster Barclay Miller lived every footy player’s dream on Tuesday, kicking a goal after the siren to power New Zealand into the AFL International Cup Grand Final.
Miller, one of two Saints playing with New Zealand during the two-week tournament alongside Joe Baker-Thomas, broke Ireland hearts by converting a free-kick to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The goal put an end to Ireland’s campaign, ensuring Papua New Guinea advanced to a Grand Final clash against the Kiwis on Saturday.
Miller and Baker-Thomas will get their first chance to play on the hallowed turf of the MCG, with the championship decider to be played as a curtain raiser to the Collingwood vs Geelong Round 22 clash.
The pair’s presence in the Kiwi line-up isn’t the only connection the team has with St Kilda, with the famous Saints emblem also adorning their uniforms.
The emblem symbolises St Kilda’s support for football in New Zealand which centres around a partnership between AFLNZ, the Saints, and the club’s major sponsor in AV Jennings.
After playing three matches in Wellington during the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons, the Saints returned the
Barclay,
This year, the 18-year-old has split his time between the TAC Cup, the
The youngster has regularly impressed in
Barclay is one of four players born in New Zealand on the Saints list, including Baker-Thomas and senior listed players Rowan Marshall and Shane Savage, who were both born across the ditch.
St Kilda Chief Operating Officer Ameet Bains said the club continued to strengthen its ties with New Zealand football and hoped to return to play home-and-away matches in the future.
“We are really proud
"We continue to plan for the return of matches in New Zealand, ideally as early as 2019 with Auckland the preferred destination.”