Former St Kilda speedster Jack Peris has signed with Essendon's VFL program for the 2024 season.
Peris – who originally joined the Saints as a Category B rookie via St Kilda's Next Generation Academy – was delisted after just one senior appearances from his two seasons on the club's list.
The 20-year-old said via a club statement that he was looking forward to the opportunity at the Bombers.
"This is a really exciting opportunity and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it," Peris said.
"The club is creating a healthy environment around its VFL program and that's been really apparent to me early in the piece.
"I feel this is the best spot for me to push my footy forward and slot well into a building team."
The running machine showed impressive signs during his solitary AFL appearance last year, recording 13 disposals and a couple of chase down tackles against the Gold Coast Suns in Round 18.
Peris showed strong form for the club's VFL affiliate Sandringham Zebras and was named as St Kilda's emergency on five separate occasions.
The 20-year-old played 30 games at VFL-level and last year averaged 14 disposals per game, with his best performance a 20-disposal, two-goal effort against the Northern Bullants.
The ex-Saint– who is the son of Olympic athletes Nova Peris and Daniel Batman – possesses elite speed and athleticism, plus a desire to apply frantic pressure on the opposition's ball carrier.
He was recently training with the Gold Coast Suns before Christmas as part of the Supplemental Selection Period signing window.
Peris joins other former AFL players Xavier O'Neill and Jackson Hately as key signings for the Bombers' VFL team over the off-season.
The Bombers – who finished last year's VFL campaign in 17th position with just five wins from 18 games – have also signed Blake Caracella as the new coach.
