The surprising departure of St Kilda’s former head of recruiting, enabling Ross Lyon and Stephen Silvagni to hire an old colleague, saw Hawthorn great Jarryd Roughead quit his former role at the club, it’s been revealed.
The Age reported on the curious story of ex-Saints recruiting boss Chris Toce, who helped spearhead the club’s excellent recent drafts which have added much-needed young talent to an otherwise stale list.
Toce was the head of recruiting for the 2021 selections of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Mitch Owens and Marcus Windhager, plus promising recent pick-ups Mattaes Phillipou, Darcy Wilson and Lance Collard.
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He was also the scout for South Australia and West Australia when the Saints plucked Callum Wilkie out of the SANFL.
But despite this success Toce was sacked in December, replaced by former Sydney recruiter Simon Dalprymple – who has had a friendly relationship with Stephen Silvagni for many years.
The move came after former list manager James Gallagher was dumped when Lyon returned as coach, with Silvagni taking his job.
It speaks to the power Lyon and friends have over the club in its current incarnation.
Hawks champion Roughead, who worked under Toce at Moorabbin, “quit his list management role at St Kilda at least in part over Toce’s treatment before accepting a similar role with his former club Hawthorn”, according to the report.
Another group of part-time recruiters were dumped over email in the same period, including a former Carlton national recruiting manager.
Silvagni left the Blues in late 2019 following a fallout with club higher-ups.
Toce is now reportedly the frontrunner to be named Richmond’s next national recruiting manager, replacing new West Coast list manager Matt Clarke.
Source Agencies
