West Coast invite former Saint as pre-season train-on player

West Coast have invited 20-year-old James Van Es to train with the club during the pre-season in a bid to be signed during the Supplemental Selection Period for the Eagles' final list spot.

Van Es was previously on an AFL list with St Kilda, drafted at Pick 31 in the 2022 National Draft, but was delisted without cracking the senior side for a debut due to a string of injuries since his arrival at Moorabbin.

At 196cm, Van Es is an athletic key defender who recorded the highest vertical leap during the 2022 draft combine. At VFL level, Van Es averaged 8.8 disposals and 3.4 marks across his 14 games with Sandringham in 2023, but was unable to hit the field in 2024 due to a long ankle injury recovery.

He was delisted in August at the conclusion of a 12th-placed season for St Kilda alongside Tom Campbell, Riley Bonner, and Matthew Allison.

In November, the 20-year-old signed with VFL team Port Melbourne, but that could be short-lived if the Victorian-born footballer impresses in WA.

https://www.zerohanger.com/west-coast-invite-former-saint-as-pre-season-train-on-player-157756/