Frawley inranks forthe Saints

James joins uncle’s club

JAMES Frawley’s decision to holiday in St Kilda’s Noosa AFL base post-season paved the way for the unlikely career postscript that will see him playing for uncle Danny F rawley’steam.

Delisted free agent Frawley has signed a one-year deal at the Saints, with list manager James Gallagher saying the emotional connection was not the reason he was recruited.

St Kilda believes the 32year-old, pictured, is suited to playing on mobile key forwards and is desperate not to be caught short if full-back Doug al Howard is injured.

Frawley was holidaying in Noosa and saw former Hawks Jarryd Roughead and Brett Ratten, and made clear he was to be “retired” by the Hawks despite his determination to playon.

The decision to continue at Moorabbin grew legs, with the Saints believing Jake Carlisle and Cal Wilkie were better placed to take on the second key tall.

The premiership full-back said on Thursday his St Kilda Hall of Fame uncle would have been proud to see him in St Kildacolours.

Danny Frawley played 240 games at St Kilda as a beloved champion, with his nephew to join him on that number of games when he makes his St Kildadebut.

While he is an insurance play as a free agent at 32, he adds to a growing band of experienced players who have been brought in to a club that senses it is in the premiership window.

“It’s obviously a huge honour to play for the same club as Danny, and I feel he would have been immensely proud to seemei nth eStKilda colours ,” Frawleysaid.

“While I was content with retirement, after speaking to James [Gallagher], Brett [Ratten] and Simon [Lethlean] about their plans for this group and what they’re building, I couldn’t resist being part of it.”

Remarkably, he is the 16th player from the Hawks most recent premiership era from 2008-15tomoveon.

Club legend Luke Hodge shocked the Hawks when he unretired himself to play with Brisbane Lions for two seasons.