ONE of the AFL’s most unique and quirky rules is the father-son recruiting system.
In a time when drafts and salary caps are in place to ensure a level recruiting playing field, the league has always allowed for a system to be in place that allows for sons of former players to join their family’s club.
The exact rule has changed over time, with a qualification going from 50 to 100 games, while father-son recruits were once exempt from the draft. They were then made automatic third-round selections before a bidding process was brought into place.
Some of the modern-day stars have come to the AFL system via this rule.
Brownlow medalists Gary Ablett and Jobe Watson, six-time All Australian Matthew Scarlett and power forward Travis Cloke are just some of the players who have been recruited as sons of former club greats.
The Saints however have had minimal luck in reaping the benefits of the father-son rule.
David Sierakowski, son of 1966 premiership player Brian played 93 games for the club before he was traded to West Coast. Other players such as Ben Stewart (son of Ian) and Stuart Annand (son of Bud) both spent time on the club’s list but never played senior games.
With this in mind, the Saints have created a father-son induction program to help the club develop any potential recruits.
St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said it was important the club harnessed potential father-son talent.
"The father-son rule is unique to the AFL competition and provides an opportunity for clubs to continue a family's football heritage through priority access to recruiting young players whose fathers have represented their chosen team in 100+ VFL/AFL games," Pelchen said.
"St Kilda is the only Victorian team to not have a father-son player represent their club so we hope to change that position through building a better connection to past Saints' players and subsequently, playing a more active role in the development of their boys."
An initial meeting was held at Linen House Centre last month to gather all relevant families together to outline the program and receive a guided tour of the club’s facilities at Linen House Centre in Seaford.
Past players Stewart Loewe, Andrew Thompson, Justin Peckett, Dean Rice, Jayson Daniels, David Grant, Steven Sziller, Tony Brown, Max Hudghton and Brett Voss as well as modern-day Saints Justin Koschitzke and Stephen Milne were on hand with their families to hear about the new program that will be closely monitored by St Kilda’s recruiting and development staff.
The sons of former players Frank Coghlan, Robert Harvey, Austinn Jones and Peter Everitt will also be in the program.
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The ages of the potential father-sons range from 16 months to 16 years, but all who attended were warmly embraced as part of the St Kilda family.
Pelchen said he hoped the program would bear fruit in the near and distant future.
"The establishment of the St Kilda father-son program will play an integral role in the identification and recruitment of former Saints champions' children to the club,” he said.
"We look forward to building upon the great traditions of our past players and continuing with some famous Saints names in the red, white and black."
