The footy season is back, with the 2023 AFL season well and truly underway, and we couldn’t be more excited. As avid football fans, there is nothing more the team here at Real Innovation Group likes to do on the weekend than be in the stands at one of the football stadiums cheering on our favourite team.

And our love for this tremendous Australian sport doesn’t stop at watching the games. We love supporting our local clubs, and as such, we are proud to be premium partners of the St Kilda Football Club, one of the most iconic football clubs in Australia, and to sponsor two incredible players. In this blog, we will dive into a brief history of the St Kilda Football Club and our reasons for partnering with them.

History of St Kilda Football Club 

Founded in 1873, the St Kilda Football Club is one of the oldest sporting institutions in the world. It is one of the foundation clubs of the Victorian Football League, which later evolved into the Australian Football League in 1990.

The St Kilda Football Club has a long and proud history, with many notable achievements. They won their first premiership in 1966 and qualified for the grand final six more times. The club has produced some of AFL’s most recognised players, including Tony Lockett, Nathan Burke, Darrel Baldock, and Nick Riewoldt. 

 St Kilda added an Australian women’s team to their club in 2020, with the team playing three seasons so far.  

Our Partnership with the St Kilda Football Club 

At Real Innovation Group, we believe in supporting local communities and contributing to their growth and development. By being proud premium partners of the St Kilda Football Club, we are not only promoting our brand, but we are also supporting rising athletic talent and the Australian sporting community. Currently, we also sponsor two incredible players, Josh Battle and Caitlin Matthews.

Josh Battle was initially drafted by the St Kilda Football Club in 2016 as part of the national draft. In 2017, while finishing Year 12, he made his football debut in round 17 of that season in a great match against Essendon. While he started at the club as a forward, he currently plays defence. His natural talent as a footballer led to him winning the Rising Star Nomination in 2018 & registered his first top-10 finish at the 2022 Trevor Barker Award for his consistent season.

Caitlin Matthews was drafted to the Saint’s AFLW club last year after earning NAV League Premiership honours in 2021. Caitlin’s father, Dean Matthew’s played one senior game for St Kilda in 1995, and although Caitlin joined St Kilda as a father-daughter selection, she is looking to carve her own path in the club.

Real Innovation Group is proud to be a premium partner of the St Kilda Football Club and to sponsor two of its rising players. We can’t wait to see them on the field in their respective seasons this year. All that’s left to say is GO SAINTS!