Steele and Geary to captain St Kilda in 2021
Former Belconnen Magpie Jack Steele will join Jarryn Geary as co-captain of the St Kilda Football Club in 2021.
The All Australian joins esteemed clubman Geary at the helm of a seven-man leadership group, with Tim Membrey appointed vice-captain alongside Wagga Wagga’s Dougal Howard.
The pair will be supported by, Seb Ross, Jack Billings and Callum Wilkie in a leadership group which was voted in by the players, coaches and football staff.
This will be Geary’s fifth year as captain, but it marks Steele’s first official leadership position.
“I’m really grateful to have been given this honour, it’s a true privilege,” Steele told saints.com.au.
“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.
“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.”
Steele’s appointment to the captaincy mantle didn’t surprise Geary, who has taken particular interest in the midfielder’s leadership development.
“Jack and I have caught up quite regularly over the past few years to talk about his role as a leader among the group,” Geary said.
Geary said Steele’s appointment embodies the progression of the playing group as a whole, with the average games played by the leadership group just 112.
“When I started at the club, we had established leaders like Nick Riewoldt, Robert Harvey and Leigh Montagna filling these roles,” Geary said.
“Now to have someone like Callum Wilkie in the leadership group after being recruited as a mature-aged rookie and playing less than 50 games, it shows that the next generation of Saints are ready to make this team their own.
“Saints fans should be really excited – I know I am.”
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