St Kilda’s sweeping post-trade shake-up has claimed two more casualties, with veteran midfielder Zak Jones and young defender Arie Schoenmaker both delisted as the club continues to reshape its list under Ross Lyon.
Jones, who joined the Saints from Sydney in 2020, played 74 games for the club but struggled for consistency through injury and form in recent seasons. Schoenmaker, meanwhile, departs after just seven senior appearances since being drafted in 2023.
“This is never an easy part of the year,” St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena said on Thursday. “Following the trade period, we’ve had to make some difficult decisions as we continue to shape our list for long-term success.
Both Zak and Arie have made valuable contributions to the club’s growth over their time at Moorabbin, playing a vital role in helping position the team for its next phase.”
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Saints usher in a new era
The double delisting comes barely a day after former captain Jack Steele’s emotional farewell, with the midfielder sealing a move to Melbourne after being told to explore other options. The back-to-back departures of Steele and Jones, once central figures in St Kilda’s engine room, mark the end of an era for the club.
Their exits make way for a new midfield core built around emerging star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who re-signed earlier this year and is expected to lead the Saints’ next phase alongside new recruits Sam Flanders and Tom De Koning.
Carlton’s Jack Silvagni and West Coast’s Liam Ryan have also joined the club as Lyon and Dilena steer St Kilda towards what they describe as “long-term success”.
For Jones, who played 164 AFL games across Sydney and St Kilda, and Schoenmaker, whose promise remains untapped, the search for new beginnings now begins.