Jack Steele went from playing for the Gungahlin Jets in Canberra to being the captain of St Kilda, winning the Best & Fairest award, and being one of the AFL’s toughest two-way midfielders. In 2025, he gave up being captain because of trade rumors, and fans and rivals are keeping a close eye on him as his future is uncertain.
Jack Steele’s early life in Canberra
The Gungahlin Jets, a club in the northern suburbs of Canberra, is where Jack Steele’s story begins. They have been trying to win the senior premiership for decades. In 2007, Steele won the Under-12s Players’ Player award. Steve May, a long-time Jets player, later remembered this. His son would win the same award in 2016.
In 2022, the Jets will celebrate their 40th anniversary. They have had a hard time at the senior level for a long time, but their junior programs are getting bigger. Steele’s rise gives hope that the next generation of kids in Canberra will stay there and want to be successful in the AFL.
Steele joined the GWS Academy when he moved to the Belconnen Magpies. He was one of the best AFL players from Canberra’s cold winter competitions. Steele was picked 24th in the 2014 National Draft. Early on, people saw him as a hybrid player who could play both inside and outside the lines.
The GWS Giants’ First Steps in the AFL
Steele played his first game for GWS in 2015 and made an immediate impact by outmarking veteran Jarryn Geary to score his first AFL goal against St Kilda in Round 15.
At first, Steele played both half-forward and midfield, but it was hard for him to get midfield time in a Giants engine room full of stars. He thought about staying, but people he trusted told him it would be best for him and his footy to leave. “I was close to staying, but people I trust said it would be best for me and my footy.”
Steele played against GWS for the first time as a Saint in 2017. He later said that the moment was too much for him: “It scared me a little when I saw the boys warming up at the other end. I was shaken up.
Jack Steele Comes to St. Kilda
Steele joined St. Kilda in late 2016, but he was hurt and had a broken foot and extra weight when he got there. Coach Alan Richardson was very clear: “You need to get in shape and lose some weight.” Steele changed his diet while living with teammate Hugh Goddard because he couldn’t train fully. He mostly ate salads and meat.
Steele had made a name for himself as an inside midfielder by 2017, known for how hard he tackled. Richardson, who thought he was a strong ball user who could do more than just contested grunt, pushed him to work on his outside game as well.
He was given the nickname “Steeley” and became one of six “Jacks” on the team. His teammates joked during practice, “We only need one of you!”
Jack Steele’s Rise as a Midfield Force
By 2020, Steele had become one of the best two-way midfielders in the AFL. His statistics were one of a kind:
- Every year since joining St. Kilda, he has been in the top 10 for tackles.
- One of the best midfielders at intercepting passes in the league.
- He got about 60% of his disposals in the back half, which shows how good he is at defense.
- Still in the top 30 for scoring assists and inside 50s.
Steele even fought in the ruck, once going up against Braydon Preuss, who was 20 cm taller than him. This showed how versatile he was. Analysts praised him as a hybrid midfielder who could win the ball inside and outside with equal skill.
He won back-to-back Trevor Barker Awards (Best & Fairest) to finish off his rise and make himself the Saints’ midfield general.
Jack Steele’s Path to Leadership
Steele was made co-captain with Jarryn Geary in 2021. Geary remembered his first impression of Steele when GWS played St. Kilda in 2015: “He took a huge contested mark on me and kicked his first goal.” He owes me a little bit for that.
Geary said that GWS captain Callan Ward said that losing Steele was the hardest departure for him. He also said that Steele was the kind of guy he would “follow into battle,” a leader who led by example.
Steele was the only captain by 2022. He led like club legend Lenny Hayes, who “led with his eyes.” Steele was quiet but strong, and he earned respect by putting the team first in football. “Jack is a role model,” said Coach Brett Ratten. He puts himself in there, but he doesn’t think he has to do everything.
Friendship, mental health, and balance
Jack Steele has openly joined the conversation about mental health in the AFL. He and teammate Luke Dunstan led the “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” campaign, which told players to speak up.
Dunstan called Steele his most trusted friend and said, “Jack is the one I go to for advice out of all my close friends.” I trust him the most. Steele said it was hard but rewarding to balance being a mate and a captain.
Steele said, “When I was a kid, I learned to grit my teeth, not cry, and just get on with it.” But it’s good to know that it’s okay to speak up, cry if you need to, and ask for help if you’re having a hard time.
Steele finds balance outside of football by playing golf, playing the guitar, playing video games on the PlayStation, and spending time alone at his local café. He also worked at Alex Rance’s academy every Wednesday for 10 weeks, teaching kids about community values, going to the gym, and living in a high-performance environment.
2024 Season-Change at St. Kilda
St. Kilda came in 12th in the 2024 season. Steele said that the club was going through a change. They lost Josh Battle to Hawthorn but got veteran Jack Macrae from the Bulldogs.
Steele said nice things about Macrae: “He has such clean hands.” He has already taken younger players under his wing, and he knows the game so well.
Steele named Anthony Caminiti, Zane Cordy, Arie Schoenmaker, and Angus Hastie as possible defenders after Dougal Howard got hurt. Rising draftee Tobie Travaglia impressed as a utility player who is expected to make his debut soon.
Steele admitted that there were inconsistencies: “It’s normal for a young team, but it’s still not okay.” We’ll get back up.
Jack Steele quits as captain of St. Kilda in 2025
The Saints said in October 2025 that Steele had quit as captain after his exit interview. The club sent out a short message that said, “Jack told the club he wants to stay, but he is open to other opportunities if they come up.”
The Saints told Steele he was “welcome to explore other opportunities” because they moved him out of the midfield, even though his contract runs until 2027. Mitch Cleary from Channel 7 said he was “a big name to watch in the next two weeks.”
Fans were furious:
- “Not a good look at all.”
- “That’s how you treat the guy you thought was good enough to be captain nine months ago.”
- “Did Jack Macrae ruin Jack Steele’s career?”
- With Cal Wilkie likely to be the next captain, Steele’s future became one of the biggest trade stories of the year.
READ MORE : Pride Shattered: St Kilda Star Jack Steele Forced to Hand In Captaincy
Jack Steele’s Future in Trade Period Drama
The trade period of 2025 was already very busy. Christian Petracca asked to be traded to Gold Coast, and there were rumors that Charlie Curnow of Carlton and Zach Merrett of Essendon were also going to be traded.
Steele was quickly linked to a return to GWS, where coach Adam Kingsley wanted him to help Tom Green and Finn Callaghan after Callan Ward retired and Coniglio and Kelly got hurt. Giants insiders thought Steele was the perfect mix of contested power and leadership to make their midfield more stable.
St. Kilda, on the other hand, was making its own bold moves as part of a big 2026 rebuild. They got Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni and were also after Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders.
Steele was one of the “five possible landing spots” in AFL trade analysis, but he said in public that he wanted to stay at Moorabbin if he could.
The Legacy of Jack Steele
Jack Steele has had an amazing career. He went from playing for a suburban Canberra club with no senior premierships to being the captain of St Kilda, winning multiple Best & Fairests, and becoming one of the best two-way midfielders in the AFL.
Teammates say he is the epitome of a team-first person, a leader who puts others first and inspires them through his actions. Steele is already known as one of the most selfless leaders in modern AFL, whether he stays at St Kilda or moves to a new team.
FAQ’S
Is Jack Steele getting married?
No, Jack Steele has not made an official announcement about his engagement.
Where was Jack Steele raised?
He grew up in Canberra, where he played junior footy with the Gungahlin Jets before moving to Belconnen.
What is Jack Steele’s number?
St. Kilda’s Jack Steele wears the No. 9 guernsey.
What is Jack Steele famous for?
He was the captain of St Kilda, won the Best & Fairest award twice, and is one of the best two-way midfielders in the AFL.
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