Jason Heatley - St Kilda Career

St Kilda Career

St Kilda picked Heatley up in the 1996 AFL Draft, and he debuted for the Saints in 1997. Heatley kicked 73 goals in 1997, leading St Kilda's goalkicking and being a vital part of a St Kilda team. In his first game for St Kilda he kicked 5 goals against Collingwood in Round 3. Heatley also kicked a personal best of 9.1 goals that year in Round 14 where St Kilda won by 9 goals against North Melbourne at Waverley Park.

Heatley played in 17 of 22 matches in the 1997 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda Football Club qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL Finals Series, winning the club’s 2nd Minor Premiership and 1st McClelland Trophy.

Heatley played in the 1997 AFL Grand Final in which St Kilda was defeated by 31 points. He was the third highest goalkicker in the AFL that year, behind Tony Modra and Saverio Rocca.

In 1998 Heatley had an average year, the inconsistency of the team reflected his performances. However, he still won the Saints' goalkicking, albeit with only 48 goals for the year.

In 1999 and 2000 Heatley's AFL career started a downward spiral. He managed only 13 games in 1999 for a return of 27 goals, and in 2000 he played 7 games for only 15 goals. Heatley was delisted at the end of 2000.