The Southern Saints have retained Misilifi Faimalo and Sam Blackler for the 2019 AFL New Zealand Premiership while using their priority draft pick to secure the services of former Northern Suns half forward Josh Sedgwick.
The 2017 Premiership winning side used a priority pick to land Sedgwick under the ruling of the Retained Player List (RPL) Category 2, stating:
Each Premiership side will be able to retain up to five regional based players (if a Premiership side cannot supply the required amount of players from the 2018 season, a Priority Draft Pick will be allocated to rectify this.)
Read more: 2019 AFLNZ Premiership retained players list explained
Misilifi Faimalo
NZ superstar Misilifi Faimalo will return to the Southern Saints in 2019.
The 2018 AFL New Zealand Under 18 Player of the year is an exciting young talent from Wellington who is lightning fast on the footy field.
First introduced to the game through the AFL Cup Secondary Schools competition, Misilifi‘s pace, skills and evasiveness shows why he is one of the top players in NZ and will play a key role alongside midfielder Carlos Donnell-Brown.
Sam Blackler
Sam Blackler from the Eastern Blues in the Canterbury AFL league will return to the Premiership side in 2019.
The 27 year old has represented Canterbury and NZ at U20 level back in 2011 and was an was an early draft pick in 2017.
A hard player at the contest, Blackler spent time away from the sport to focus on his young family but is now back playing and looking forward to playing again with the best players from around New Zealand.
Josh Sedgwick
Former Northern Suns squad member Josh Sedgwick will don the red, white and black in 2019.
Sedgwick made his debut in the 2018 Premiership and impressed in every game he played.
Included in the ‘Team of the week’ multiple times, Sedgwick is fast and skillful around the oval.
Currently living in Auckland and playing for the North Shore Tigers in the Auckland AFL, Josh will relocate to Palmerston North for work in the new year.
Read more:
Awatere, Kempt and Allen stay at the Suns
Canterbury stars to remain at the Crows
Giants lock in speed and skill
Future talent retained by the Saints
Sullivan and Rhodes retained by reigning premiers
Suns retain Dickinson and Scarf-Matthews for 2019
Giants retain Golden Boot and key defender for 2019 Premiership
Saints retain Sucu and Donnell-Brown for 2019 Premiership
Boyce to Captain Saints for record fourth season
2018 Best and Fairest to guide the Crows
McKenzie determined to go back to back with Giants in 2019
Mundell named head coach of the Western Crows
Congalton returns to lead the Southern Saints
Northern Suns name new head coach for 2019
Premiership coach signs on for 2019
2019 AFL New Zealand Premiership to include Grand Final
AFLNZ Premiership brings exciting changes for 2019 season
Millennium to host AFL New Zealand Premiership Grand Final Breakfast
AFLW Boundary Rules to be trialled in AFL New Zealand Premiership
