Whether it be injury or suspension, talented St Kilda youngster Alix Tauru's early life in the AFL has been difficult.
Tauru played 10 games in his maiden campaign after the Saints drafted him with Pick 10 in 2024 as a Nick Riewoldt clone. They called him the 'Flying Viking'. He's since added nine games this year, and will return for his 19th AFL match on Saturday when the club takes on Richmond at the MCG.
The talent is there. It's undeniable. And teammate Jack Silvagni explains why Tauru will soon realise his potential.
"I think Alex works really hard," Silvagni told Zero Hanger in a July interview.
"He's doing touch frequently and works really hard in the gym. He was injured a lot last year. He came in, played the back end of the year, and played some footy at the start of this year.
"He's played forward, he's played back, he's only in his second year of football. So I'm really confident that Alex is going to turn out to be an awesome player. He's as courageous as I've seen on the footy field. He's super strong; he's super competitive. I think he's going to be a really quality player.
"He's got all the attributes, but I have no doubt that the work that's going in behind it is going to hold him in good stead as well, because it's not just raw talent; it's that he's working to be the best player he can be as well. I have no doubts that he'll become a quality player as well."
Tauru has been trialled at both ends of the ground, but what he's shown in the AFL, and through his juniors, is that he is more suited to the intercept defensive role.
Silvagni thinks his teammate can turn into All-Australian defender Nick Haynes, who has churned out 250 games for GWS and Carlton.
At the peak of his powers, Haynes was an elite intercept defender, working in unison with Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley.
"I speak to Alex every day I'm in the club; I've done vision with him, and I work closely with him," Silvagni said.
"I actually think he could be really similar to a player like Nick Haynes when Haynesy was at his best at the Giants."
Despite an outside chance, the Saints can still make the Wildcard Round slots, but will need to win both games against the Tigers and Gold Coast, and hope the Blues lose to both the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle.
