ST KILDA has announced that Lenny Hayes will play on with the club next year, signing up for his 16th season in the AFL.
But while the 33 year old midfielder will line up for the Saints in 2014, veterans Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke and Jason Blake have all confirmed that they will retire at the end of this season.
“You couldn’t get three better team men, and I can’t speak highly enough of the way those players have helped mentor the younger players coming through,” said St Kilda coach Scott Watters.
“They’re three very selfless individuals, and I just hope everybody comes out and gets right behind and acknowledges them in what will be their last games in our colours.
“One thing that we’ve been very focused on is allowing them to make really clear, calculate decisions on whether they feel they can go on.”
For Milne, Koschitzke and Blake their farewell match against Fremantle and former coach Ross Lyon will be at Etihad Stadium next Saturday. Assuming he’s selected it will be the long awaited 200th game for Kosi.
“As a club we would like him to get to 200 games. At the same time, we’ve got to make sure that every player who takes the field, there’s a level of performance that’s required.
“He’s been close and he got good volume in this week. We just have to assess it as we go.”
Between them the four players have combined for almost 1000 games with Hayes at 275, Blake at 218, Milne with 275, and with luck Koschitzke at 200.
Speaking of Milne’s career and career total of 572 goals, including four today against the Gold Coast Suns, Watters was full of praise.
“What you don’t see, and what the statistics don’t actually show you, is the impact he has around the football club,” Watters said.
“He is one of the players that actually make training a better place, and players love playing with him.
“He is an absolute team man and I take my hat off to the way he’s gone about his footy at this club.”