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Saints sign second Kiwi International Scholarship

  • Monday, March 10 2014 @ 10:36 pm ACDT
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St Kilda have strengthened their ties with New Zealand signing a second player to an International Scholarship. The 16-year-old Giovanni Mountain-Silbery measures 1.96m and 98kg and the combination of size and natural athletic ability impressed St Kilda scouts late last year.
He will remain in New Zealand for the next two years to complete his schooling. During that time he will work with a specialist trainer twice a week and he'll go to Melbourne to work with St Kilda on school holidays.
Initially his football interests were with the rugby league code where he attracted the attention of the NRL’s Rabbitohs, but looking to up-skill his kicking game he took up Aussie rules.
(Picture: Brett Phibbs - NZ Herald)
"A close family friend told me to try AFL and that's where I was noticed by the NZ AFL trainers. They told me to come along and give AFL a good crack,” he told the NZ Herald.  "This whole opportunity is massive and it's something really new. It's a new experience for me and my family and I'm just really excited to take this opportunity as it comes and get the ball rolling."
He joins fellow Kiwi Joe Baker-Thomas on an International Scholarship at St Kilda. Other Kiwis holding International Scholarships are Siope Ngata with Hawthorn and Maia Westrupp at Melbourne.

St Kilda Head of Football, Chris Pelchen said the signing was another important step in the expansion of the game in New Zealand and the Saints objective of being the AFL club of choice across the Tasman.
 
“Like most young athletes in New Zealand, Giovanni has had limited exposure to AFL football but his power and athleticism provide a solid foundation on which to develop in the future,” Pelchen said.
 
“We know there are some outstanding athletes in New Zealand and we have been encouraged by the recent signings of Joe Baker-Thomas last year and now Giovanni in 2014.”
 
Mountain-Silbery attends the same college as Hawthorn international scholarship holder Siope Ngata and will bebased in New Zealand while he completes his final two years of schooling.

For more on this signing see:-