St Kilda's 2024 Best & Fairest night wasn't just a celebration of the club's top performers, but also a platform for club president Andrew Bassat to voice his frustrations with the AFL's draft system.
Speaking at the prestigious event, Bassat took aim at what he described as the inequitable nature of the current system, calling it "nonsense" and suggesting that it unfairly favours wealthier clubs and northern teams.
โThe system is designed to favour the wealthier clubs and the northern clubs, and our role is meant to be to just make up the numbers and not to complain about itโฆ the system is nonsense,โ Bassat said, echoing his long-standing concerns about the flaws in the draft system, particularly around Father-Son and Academy picks.
His remarks have already drawn support from AFL personalities like Kane Cornes, who responded on social media, stating, "he's spot on."
STK president Andrew Bassat has used the B&F to again tee off on the AFLโs draft system.
โThe system is designed to favour the wealthier clubs and the northern clubs and our role is meant to be to just make up the numbers and not to complain about itโฆ the system is nonsense.โ pic.twitter.com/jvkC6OaVbn
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) September 30, 2024
Bassat's comments are part of a broader critique he has voiced in recent years, arguing that the system disproportionately benefits clubs with established academies or rich histories of Father-Son selections, often leaving clubs like St Kilda playing catch-up.
His bold statements may reignite debate about the competitive balance of the league as the AFL continues its review into the draft system.
On the night, defender Callum Wilkie claimed his first Trevor Barker Award, capping off a season that saw him emerge as one of the league's top defenders. The 28-year-old polled 206 votes to edge out two-time winner Jack Sinclair (174) and departing Saint Josh Battle (161) for the club's highest individual honour.
Wilkie's journey is one of persistence and resilience. From being selected in the 2018 Rookie Draft to becoming an All-Australian defender in 2023, Wilkie has not missed a single game since his debut in 2019.
He set a club record for the most consecutive games (currently 132), surpassing legends like Ian Synman and Jack Newnes. In 2024, he averaged 17 disposals, eight marks, and seven intercepts per game, cementing his role as a backbone in the Saints' defence.
Wilkie, who also took home his third consecutive Lenny Hayes Team Trademark Award, was gracious in victory, acknowledging the team and club culture that has allowed him to thrive.
โThis club has given me every opportunity, and I'm honoured to be recognised tonight. There's no way I would've achieved this without the incredible support around me,โ he said.
Among the top 10 finishers in the Best & Fairest count were several young stars, hinting at a promising future for the Saints. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, just 21 years old, finished fifth with 133 votes, while first-year player Darcy Wilson took home the Best Emerging Player Award and finished eighth. Wilson, selected with pick No. 18 in last year's draft, has quickly made a name for himself as one of the Saints' brightest prospects.
Ruckman Rowan Marshall, who finished fourth with 143 votes, claimed the fan-voted Red Rooster Sainter of the Year Award for his hard-hitting performances in the ruck, while veteran Mason Wood won the Robert Harvey Best Clubman Award for the second time.
The night also celebrated the contributions of long-serving Saints, with Jack Sinclair, Tim Membrey, and former player Jack Billings being awarded Life Membership.
As St Kilda look towards the 2025 season, they will be buoyed not only by their rising stars but also by the leadership of players like Wilkie, who continue to set the standard both on and off the field.
However, the lingering issues Bassat raised about the AFL's draft system will remain a hot topic, especially as the Saints look to build a list capable of contending for a long-awaited second premiership.
