St Kilda could be headed for a split with their VFL affiliate Sandringham over a dispute regarding the club’s name, home venue and jumper.
Under a proposal put forward by the Saints on Wednesday, and rejected by the Zebras, the team would be renamed the Sandringham Saints, wear the red, white and black of St Kilda and play all home games at Moorabbin instead of Trevor Barker Oval.
St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena says Ross Lyon (pictured) is strong about the Saints having their own VFL side.Credit: AFL Photos
While both clubs say there is no hostility, they are a long way from middle ground.
St Kilda chief Carl Dilena said it was a “live option” the Saints could go it alone with their own reserves team in the VFL next year.
Sydney premiership player Daniel Hannebury later spent four seasons with St Kilda, in which time he also played in the VFL with Sandringham.Credit: AFL Photos
The Saints’ association with Sandringham started in 2009 but Dilena said the current coaching group, led by Ross Lyon, was “much stronger” about having their own VFL side.
“Ross is more practical [in] wanting players playing on an AFL-standard ground,” Dilena said.
Dilena said there were also cultural benefits for their recruits to be wearing the club jumper from day one.
“Yesterday, they came back to us and said they’re not interested in changing their jumper or moving games to Moorabbin,” Dilena said. “In terms of the parameters we’re suggesting, it’s not what they want to look at.
“What’s our other option now? What would a standalone look like? We need to kick the tyres on that and see where we land.
“It’s not meant to be adversarial. Both parties have different preferences on how things go forward. We could end up parting ways if we can’t find common grounds.”
Zebras president Nick Johnstone said the club was adamant in protecting their history.
“We’re not interested in wearing St Kilda jumpers and playing at RSEA Park, and we’ve made that very clear,” Johnstone said. “We’re the Sandringham Zebras and have been the Sandringham Zebras for 96 years, and we’re not changing.
“Turning around now and saying we’ve got to change our jumpers and change where we play and leave Trevor Barker Oval – we wouldn’t be doing the right thing by our supporters, long-term sponsors and people.
Trevor Barker (right) competing in the late ’70s against Bulldogs champion Kelvin Templeton.Credit: The Age archives
“If we’re playing in St Kilda jumpers and at RSEA Park, what are we? We just fundraise for St Kilda reserves.”
Asked if they would be prepared to forge ahead on their own, Johnstone said: “We will go on, absolutely.”
A split would have financial ramifications for both the Saints and the Zebras, though both clubs say they have the money to field their own VFL teams.
The Saints – who received $26.1 million in AFL funding in 2024, behind only North Melbourne among Victorian clubs – say it would cost an additional $50,000 to run their own VFL team.
“It’s not a big jump in costs,” Dilena said.
Ironically, the late great Trevor Barker is a revered figure at both clubs. Barker is a former Saints captain and two-time club champion. The Saints’ male best and fairest award is named after him.
Barker also coached Sandringham to VFA flags in 1992 and 1994 and had the club’s home ground Beach Oval named after him in 1998, two years after his death to cancer at the age of 39.
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