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Sport Nation
“The young boys have been fantastic”: New Saints assistant Jared Rivers excited by the club’s youth
Jordan Moll • December 13th, 2024 6:27 pm
New St Kilda assistant coach Jared Rivers is back in the AFL system and feels Saints fans should be full of excitement.
“The quality of the young players we have now at this club is exciting,” Rivers told SEN Mornings.
“The likes of Darcy Wilson, Mattaes Phillipou, Nasiah (Wanganeen-Milera), all these young kids that keep coming through.”
Rivers had previously coached in both the Collingwood and North Melbourne setups but lost his job due to COVID cuts in 2020.
For the past four seasons, Rivers has coached Collegians Football Club in the VAFA, winning a premiership in 2023 which helped reignite his passion for footy.
“I had to make a few decisions regarding coaching,” Rivers said.
“Being around players and coaching staff alike sparked that passion to get back into it.”
After his success in the amateurs, the Saints approached the former Melbourne and Geelong player to join their coaching ranks, and Rivers jumped at the opportunity.
“It came up pretty quick, and the process came pretty quick, so really wrapped to be here.”
Rivers joins a club full of young talent, including the arrival of two top 10 draft picks in Tobie Travaglia and Alix Tauru who has been dubbed the Flying Viking.
While Tauru has been struck down with an injury restricting his time on the track, Travaglia has really impressed Rivers with his athleticism and leadership.
“Toby has hit the ground running. (He's a) supreme athlete, can run, he's a really high transition player and a quality person,” Rivers said.
“You can see he’s already got some great leadership capabilities.”
Stkilda also added James Barret, Hugh Boxshall, Alex Dodson and Patrick Said in the draft.
The Saints start their 2025 season with a round one clash aganist the Adelaide Crows at the Adelaide Oval.
Photo: St Kilda FC
