Saints duo delisted, set for rookie lifelines

The Saints have delisted Dan Butler and Ryan Byrnes, but plan to select them in the Rookie Draft

ST KILDA has delisted veteran forward Dan Butler and midfielder Ryan Byrnes, but has committed to re-drafting both players in the Telstra AFL Rookie Draft in November.

The Saints had already publicly committed to former Richmond premiership player Butler for 2027, but he will need to be delisted along with Byrnes as the Saints free up their mandatory three list spots ahead of the national draft.

Butler has played 116 games and kicked 125 goals for the Saints, for a career totals of 161 games and 178 goals since his debut in 2017, while Byrnes, 25, has played 95 games including the last 15 games of the 2026 season.

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Their delisting means both players will be eligible to be signed by rival clubs as delisted free agents ahead of the draft, or to be selected by other teams at the draft before the Saints' picks.

St Kilda general manager of football Lenny Hayes said the club looked forward to welcoming both players back next season.

"We’ve had several positive conversations with Ryan and Dan since the end of the season and made it clear we’re committed to re-selecting them," Hayes said.

"They have both been valued members of our program for several seasons. During this time, they have proven reliable contributors and we're confident they will play their role for the team again next year."

The 2026 Telstra AFL Draft will be held on November 19-20, with the rookie draft taking place on November 23.