St Kilda Football Club and Sandringham Football Club are pleased to announce an historic, long-term partnership from 2017 and beyond.

The ongoing, unlimited term alignment will provide a seamless player development program for the Saints, and the Zebras will maintain its independent identity forged from its rich history.

While Sandringham will continue to wear their black and gold guernsey for the majority of the season, the new partnership will see them play up to three home games at Moorabbin from 2018 in a St Kilda styled playing strip.

The remaining balance of home games for the VFL affiliate side will be hosted at Trevor Barker Oval, extending St Kilda's football presence across two locations in its bayside heartland.   

Other key terms of the partnership include the removal of limits on the number of St Kilda listed players selected in the Zebras senior team, retention of the Sandringham Zebras name and increased cooperation in governance and administration.

While the two clubs have enjoyed an official VFL alignment since November 2008, the Zebras and the Saints have long been linked through their bayside Melbourne connection and various players who have represented both clubs such as Rex Hunt, Ian Cooper and Bob Murray.

Additionally, the Zebras’ home ground and St Kilda’s best and fairest award are both named after Trevor Barker who played 230 games for the Saints before coaching Sandringham to premierships in 1992 and 1994.

Join the players and coaches at the 2016 best and fairest and celebrate an exciting season

St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis said the two clubs were pleased to confirm a long-term partnership together.

“We enjoy a terrific alignment with Sandringham and are thrilled that the relationship has grown stronger each year,” he said.

“St Kilda is committed to engaging with our bayside heartland so it makes sense that we strengthen our partnership with Sandringham – a proud club with an impressive history of success that we'd like to play a role in continuing.

“A key focus for the Saints is providing the best development pathway for our young, listed players and this has been a big part of our partnership discussions with Sandringham.

“We believe that developing young players in a winning culture should be a key ambition for any second tier program and are confident that with Sandringham we can achieve this together.

“Strengthening our partnership will also provide an enviable pathway for talented junior footballers in Bayside when you consider the combined coaching, support resources and first-class facilities between a revitalised Moorabbin and recently upgraded Trevor Barker Oval,” Finnis said.

Sandringham President Danny Corcoran said the extension was testament to the successful relationship the two clubs have forged.

“The objective of the Sandringham Football Club Board was to ensure that Sandringham FC would survive and be competitive in the VFL competition, whilst providing a development pathway for young footballers in the bayside area,” he said.

“Our partnership with St Kilda FC has strengthened over the past few years and with the Saints returning to Moorabbin we are looking forward to working closely with them in developing the game at all levels in this region. This includes the possible commencement of a women's team in the near future.” 

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