Walking into an AFL club for the first time is a daunting experience for anyone, but when one of your best mates is already there, it makes the transition a little bit easier.
For new St Kilda key defender Oscar Clavarino, he hasn’t had to look far for a familiar face.
Clavarino and young mobile forward Josh Battle have grown tight over the past few years at Haileybury
“To have someone that has been one of my best mates for the last few years at the club is just really good to have there to fall back on,” Clavarino told saints.com.au at
“He’s also someone to look up to who has been in the system for a year now and starting to look really like a professional.
“So to have him by my side and living right near is really
After being a dominant force a decade ago, Haileybury has returned to the top of the APS football competition in the last year or two, winning the premiership with an undefeated season this year, before having seven students drafted last week.
Two Haileyburians were taken in the first four picks – Andrew Brayshaw (No. 2) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (No. 4) – while Aiden Bonar was picked at No. 11, before Clavarino (No. 35) and Charlie Constable (No. 36) were selected in consecutive picks, as well as Hamish Brayshaw (No. 68) and Jackson Ross (No. 71), who rounded out a massive haul.
“We had Matthew Lloyd down there and the coach David Lappage and they run a really good program there,” Clavarino said.
“It was really good to have the whole team buy in this year and have a lot of Year 10’s and 11’s play.
“I think we formed a really good relationship and to come out and play some really good footy was the best part about it.”
Standing at 196cm, equipped with a strong pair of hands and sharp closing speed, Clavarino has the tools to play on the last line of defence for many years to come.
“Hopefully it’s someone who can hold down a key back position for the Saints and then hopefully turn
