In what was the early birthday present of a lifetime, Leitchville Gunbower Football Club product James Barrat can now call himself a Saint.
Picked at number 32 on night two of the 2024 AFL Draft, Barrat was over the moon to hear his name called.
“It’s the best thing ever,” he said.
“I had really good advice from my manager and from the Pioneers coach ... but I didn’t believe until it happened.
“I’ve never really been able to tell myself, no matter what happened or how good I was looking, that the draft was a chance.
“I just hoped for the best.”
The swingman joined fellow Bendigo Pioneers draftee and good friend Tobie Travaglia at St Kilda.
Despite having his Year 12 graduation, Travaglia made a beeline to see Barrat after his name was announced.
“The day before I said there might be a little chance to go to St Kilda, and he was ecstatic,” Barrat said.
“He came over about 20 minutes after I was drafted.
“It was just the best feeling, it was so cool.”
The next few weeks will see the recruits immersed in all things red, white and black, moving in with a senior player to shadow for their three-week training program.
Barrat will spend some time settling in to the club, an all-new playing group for the Bendigo Pioneers’ 2024 best and fairest winner.
“It will be cool to get to know them well,” he said.
“Obviously, we’ll train and get to know everyone, get used to the club and everything.
“I played a game against them this year, which is really the only place I’ve met any of them.”
After an injury-riddled 2023 season, Barrat made a strong recovery in 2024, making four appearances for the under-18 boys’ Vic Country side and 13 for the Pioneers.
“I broke my ankle and I had to have a whole year off,” he said.
“I did as much gym as I could and put on a bit of size ... having a lot of time off, I definitely wasn’t at the fitness level I needed, but my goal was to keep getting by and be consistent.
“I made sure I did all the right things, and I was as professional as possible.
“I went flat out for a full year, which gave me the best result I could ask for.”
The support from the Leitchville Gunbower Football Netball Club and Echuca community has been invaluable to Barrat.
A former St Joseph’s College, Echuca student, Barrat relocated to Bendigo this year, finishing Year 12 at Bendigo Senior Secondary College.
“The last few weeks and even this year, messages after messages making sure I’m all good and supporting me through the way,” he said.
“It’s been unreal and overwhelming, just everyone taking their time out of the day just to make sure I’m all good and to catch up.
“Obviously, I moved away to Bendigo this year, so I don’t get to see them as much, but they’re still in contact 24/7.
“It’s just unreal to have so many people who care so deeply about you.”
Speaking last week, the new Saint was looking forward to spending his 18th birthday at St Kilda’s family day on Saturday, November 23, where he got a chance to meet his teammates and fully embrace life at Moorabbin for the first time.
“It’s the best birthday present I could ever get,” he said.
“I couldn’t want it any other way, being at the club on my birthday, seeing all the boys.
“It will be the best thing ever.”