Jarrod Lienert

Former Port Adelaide and St Kilda defender Jarrod Lienert joins North Melbourne’s VFL program with dual role

The Roos have welcomed the 28-year-old to Arden Street.

Published by
Mitch Keating

Former Port Adelaide and St Kilda defender Jarrod Lienert has joined North Melbourne's VFL playing and coaching ranks for 2023.

The Roos confirmed on Friday that Lienert was among the club's latest additions for next season, which will be their first under new AFL senior coach Alastair Clarkson.

Lienert is set to work alongside and under newly-appointed VFL coach Tom Lynch at Arden Street, with the former three-club forward added to the role following a spell as the Roos reserves' coach at the back end of this year on an interim basis.

2022 VFL senior coach Leigh Adams led the Kangaroos' AFL squad in the second half of the season following David Noble's departure, giving Lynch a chance to steer North Melbourne's VFL side.

With Adams joining Clarkson at AFL level, Lynch will lead the club's VFL program and will gain assistance from Lienert both on and off the field, with the defender joining the Roos as a part-time assistant and VFL squad member.

Lienert departed St Kilda this season after one year at the club, having ventured to Moorabbin from South Australia as a pre-season Supplemental Selection Period acquisition.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Jarrod Lienert of the Power in action during the 2021 AFL Round 18 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Port Adelaide Power at Marvel Stadium on July 17, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He was delisted by Port Adelaide over 12 months ago following 23 matches under Ken Hinkley and had joined SANFL club Sturt before being recruited to the Saints.

Lienert made 11 appearances for St Kilda this year and would feature in seven matches for the club's VFL affiliate Sandringham in 2022.

The medium-sized defender will be among several new faces working as part of North Melbourne's new-look coaching hierarchy, with the likes of Josh Gibson, Brett Ratten, Emma Kearney and Damian Monkhorst joining Clarkson's brigade.

Published by
Mitch Keating