St Kilda has sent draftee Arie Schoenmaker to train with their VFL side once a week, but insist it is not a punishment from the club.
Schoenmaker was drafted in 2023 with pick 62, a huge slide after he the 194cm key defender was expected to be picked up in the first round.
However, it was his off field antics that nearly cost him a spot in AFL level.
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The 18-year-old admitted he was worried that his early 2023 antics could impact his appeal to AFL clubs.
The Launceston local was handed a 10-week suspension by the Tasmanian Devils for an incident involving alcohol on a pre-season camp.
"I bought the boys some alcohol after a game when I was a leader in that team," Schoenmaker told Fox Footy in October last year.
"I was a second-year player and I encouraged drinking with the young boys. I just didn't use my leadership skills in a positive way."
His modified program, which includes refining his ball skills once a week with the reserves squad on top of his usual conditioning work with the AFL side, is part of helping him "adjust" to being an elite athlete, according to The Herald Sun.
Despite suggestions that the extra physical work is a punishment from coach Ross Lyon and his new team, the club remained strong that it is to simply assist his professionalism ahead of his first season at the top.
Back in November of last year, St Kilda list manager Stephen Silvagni acknowledged the "adversity" that the Tasmanian had previously faced.
"He's had some adversity early on in the year and had to go back and find some form and prove himself again, so that's a good sign," Silvagni said in November 2023.
"With kids, you want to see how they handle adversity a little bit and it's not all smooth for a lot of kids.
"He's 18 years of age, we've given him a chance and hopefully he takes that chance, because he's got some talent."
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