Trio of players depart St Kilda

Three more players have been delisted by the Saints.

EDITOR | October 29, 2024 - 5:00pm

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St Kilda have made further list changes ahead of this week's lodgement deadline, with Ben Paton, Jack Hayes and Olli Hotton leaving the Saints following the 2024 season.

Paton departs the club after seven years with the Saints, with the lockdown defender managing 71 career games in the red, white and black.

The 26-year-old played four games this year and just 16 across the past two seasons, with injury and form limiting his availability under coach Ross Lyon.

Hayes, who joined the Saints as a Supplemental Selection Period ahead of the 2022 season after a stellar run at the SANFL level with Woodville-West Torrens, leaves the club after a luckless run with injuries.

An ACL setback in his maiden season and further foot concerns kept Hayes to just eight games across his three seasons at Moorabbin. He would manage to poll two Brownlow votes during his time in the AFL, including a vote in a three-goal debut against Collingwood.

Hotton was drafted to St Kilda as the 35th overall pick in the 2022 AFL Draft, with a back injury delaying the start of his career with the club. Hotton has managed 24 VFL games for Sandringham, failing to make his AFL debut over the past two seasons.

“Ben, Jack and Olli have all been valued players throughout their time at the club,” EGM Football David Misson said.

“Each have had their individual significant injury setbacks, however, have continually shown to be resilient, optimistic and professional young men throughout these periods.