St Kilda's pair of top 10 draft selections have earned comparisons to past stalwarts of the club, with the teenage duo receiving high praise from AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan.
The Saints recruited Bendigo Pioneers half-back Tobie Travaglia with their opening selection of Pick 8 and would take Gippsland Power bolter Alixzander Tauru two spots later.
The blonde-haired duo would headline the club's latest crop of incoming kids, with further selections seeing James Barrat (Pick 32), Hugh Boxshall (Pick 45), Alex Dodson (Pick 53) and Patrick Said (Pick 60) also land at Moorabbin.
Tauru's venture to the AFL came off the back of a stellar rise throughout his draft campaign, having initially not been part of Vic Country's plans before earning a call-up after a promising start to his Talent League season with the Power.
The high-leaping defender made his U18s carnival debut against Western Australia in June and would hold his place in the Vic Country side to see out the rest of the National Championships.
His return for Gippsland in the second half of the year saw Tauru flex his elasticity as a forward target for the Power, with the 193cm swingman having three hauls of multiple goals from his final five games of the season.
Speaking onย Unpluggered, Sheehan explained he saw comparisons between Tauru and St Kilda Team of the Century member Trevor Barker, given his courage and aerial prowess down back.
"If we go back to March, we might not have even heard of him. He had only played two or three games last year, he had injuries and wasn't on the radar or with Vic Country," Sheehan said of the Warragul Industrials junior.
"He didn't play the first game (in the National Championships), but then he stepped right up and played the next three. He's a graceful mover over the ground who ended up playing up the ground in midfield and forward.
"There was a game at Latrobe late in the year for Gippsland, a windy day that was blowing to one end and he stayed at the one end all day. He was judging the wind like no other player and he was a standout. If there was one AFL player out there, that's the one.
"I tell you who he reminds me of, for Saints fans... Trevor Barker. The marking, the blonde hair, a defender that comes from any angle and made you think 'Wow, how'd he take that?'. Going back with courage, floating across the front and plucking it from full-back. He just didn't fumble the ball.
"We don't know his limits, because his sample size is small, but those glimpses are fantastic images of a rising calibre player."
Travaglia was on the end of strong plaudits and comparisons from Sheehan too, with former Saints skipper Jarryn Geary mentioned as a player who comes to mind when watching the defender-midfield hybrid.
Both Travaglia and Geary hail from the Bendigo region and won best and fairest honours with the Pioneers before being drafted to St Kilda, but it's Travaglia's determination and drive that caught Sheehan's eye the most this year.
"One comparison, with the chance to reflect a little and knowing where he's now gone, Jarryn Geary," Sheehan said.
"They're both from Bendigo too, of course, but were taken different ends of the draft. Jarryn I think was Pick 58 in the Rookie Draft. He had won the best and fairest with the Pioneers, so he shares that with Travaglia, who won it as a 17-year-old last year and beat Harley Reid. That's not a bad one to have up your sleeve when you're a bottom-ager.
"He bobbed up this year and had another great year. If he ends up half as good as Jarryn Geary, who was one of the most courageous players in the game and got everything out of himself... [Travaglia] plays like him with his desperate attack on the ball.
"He reads the ball very well and intercepts well then takes off with it. His form early this year was fantastic. We added him to the Australian U18 team after a month of footy and he dominated in that game against Coburg. His acceleration, desperation, and skill stood out.
"He'll give every bit. He's a heart-and-soul type player who has had two brilliant years in a row. I haven't seen him play a poor game."
The Saints' selection of Travaglia came after external anticipation that the teenager might be used as a midfielder to start his career in the red, white, and black, with the centre of the field viewed as an area for St Kilda's list team to address.
While Travaglia could hold a role on the wing or eventually slot into the engine room, Sheehan sees his best role in defence.
"I've seen him play wing and a little bit up through the midfield, but I see him intercepting brilliantly. Setting up play and rebounding from (half-back). He's special back there," he said.
"We'll see what Ross wants to do with him over time. He'll start as a defender, but let's see what comes from that.
"The Saints probably prioritised defence (with their two picks). There has to be an emphasis on both the next best player and priorities in positions with the type of player they wanted.
"I wasn't surprised to see those boys taken in the top 10 and am very optimistic about the first number of years of their careers."
Sheehan named Travaglia as the club's best chance to fetch a debut early into next year, with the flanker featuring in the VFL this year for Carlton and looking comfortable against senior opposition.
The Saints open their 2025 campaign with a trip to South Australia to face Adelaide on Sunday, March 16, with a maiden home game coming six days later against Geelong at Marvel Stadium.
St Kilda could add to their list further this off-season via the Supplemental Selection Period, having opened a list spot after the retirement of Brad Crouch.
