ST KILDA hopes its two latest international scholarship rookies can be inspired by the rapid progression of Joe Baker-Thomas since moving to Australia a year ago.
The athletically gifted New Zealander was the Saints' first scholarship holder, before American Jason Holmes was signed in late 2013.
Now 18, Baker-Thomas has relocated to Melbourne and lives with a host family in Parkdale.
With senior VFL football a realistic goal for the Porirua native this season, the Saints hope their latest New Zealand scholarship choices Giovanni Mountain-Silbery and Barclay Miller can find inspiration in what Baker-Thomas has achieved in just 12 months.
“(Baker-Thomas) is a very nice kick and he had some good games in the pre-season in terms of playing VFL footy and using his body and making the right decisions but we think he's coming along nicely," Saints development coach Peta Searle told AFL.com.au in Wellington on Thursday.
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"That's pretty impressive because when it's not in their face all the time and not even on the television for them to see, to learn what decisions to make at the right time under pressure is really important.
"He's got a good grasp of that now.
"It took him a little while to get there and it was mainly due to this being an elite environment and this being the workload.
"He copped a few stress related injuries, which probably hurt him early, but since he's adapted and learned how to run and he understands what it's like to be in an elite system and how to prepare for that."
Baker-Thomas met Mountain-Silbery and Barclay at Hutt Park where New Zealand's Under-16 and Under-18 squads trained on Thursday, for what was the first time the three scholarship holders had been together.
After being troubled by shin splints last year, Baker-Thomas managed a number of games for Sandringham reserves and benefited from a shift into defence, which he said suited his natural aggression.
He said the move across the ditch had made him more determined to succeed in a sport that was once foreign to him, after realising the enormity of the competition's support base.
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"I moved over and I kind of underestimated what I had," Baker-Thomas said.
"Being over here, I didn't really know what it was about and then I was there and I saw how much you had to do to be an AFL footballer.
"It kind of made the drive for me even more. You get tough sessions and everything that's thrown at you, you've just got to accept it and play on.
"This year I want to play VFL top level."
Saints Sean Dempster, Luke Delaney and Sam Gilbert have become significant mentors for Baker-Thomas while he learns the defensive craft.
With Mountain-Silbery and Miller yet to finish school, they'll remain in New Zealand for the foreseeable future and continue their tailored development programs with visits to Seaford during the year.
Searle recognised the challenges the youngsters faced in staying motivated while away from a professional environment but remained optimistic they could succeed.
Giovanni Mountain-Silbery (L) and Barclay Miller (R), alongside Joe Baker-Thomas. Picture: Justine Walker, AFL Media.
"You're coming from a long way back [so] you have to catch up and have a really committed work ethic because it's going to take time, and you've got to speed it up by working extra harder than everyone else," she said.
"But it's very exciting. Giovanni is a great leap and Barclay in terms of his ability to pick up a footy and kick within a month, his progression rate has been phenomenal."
Mountain-Silbery was signed in March last year while Miller joined the program two months ago.
Rugby league player Mountain-Silbery is more outspoken than basketballer Miller, and said Baker-Thomas had showed them both what can be achieved with hard work.
"I find it as good motivation. It's possible," Mountain-Silbery said.
"There's things that I know I can achieve because of what Joe's been able to do so it's been good."
And, while Mountain-Silbery and Miller have a long way to go, Baker-Thomas believes they can make similar progression to him if they commit to the program and its long-term outcome of a shift to Australia.
"I highly recommend it. You obviously learn more being around the culture and everything day-in day-out and it's benefited me so there's no reason it won't benefit them," he said.
