Charlie Banfield has declared “nothing’s better” than making your AFL debut after sending his family into raptures with his first goal for St Kilda, with his father, and West Coast great, Drew, pumping the air.

Banfield was selected for his debut on Friday after a strong start to his maiden season in the VFL.

He had a quiet start to life in the AFL and misfired on his first shot, sliding it out on the full from near the boundary line.

But the youngster and his family, who travelled in force to support the 18-year-old debutant, didn’t have to wait long for his second chance.

After taking the mark 25 metres out from goal on a slight angle, his second shot never looked in doubt as he nailed his first AFL major to extend his side’s advantage over cellar-dwellers Richmond.

The celebration was all class from the young West Australian as well, turning to his family and pointing straight up at his parents as they erupted in the stands.

“Nothing’s better. This has been a dream for a long time,” he told Channel 7 post-match.

“To finally get there and to kick a goal on the day tops it off with a cherry.

“I reckon 40-odd made it over from Perth which is unreal.”

The youngster even gave a shout out to his grandmother watching at home in Perth.

Drew, who played 265 games for the Eagles, including the 2006 premiership, refrained from wearing Saints gear for the occasion, but his pride was written clear all over his face as his son celebrated.

Banfield was overlooked as a father-son selection by the Eagles in the 2025 national draft before being snapped up at pick 41 by St Kilda, who have adopted the name Euro-Yroke for Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds.

He had trained with West Coast ahead of the 2025 season but told The West Australian he was excited to continue his family legacy even if not at his father’s club.

“I definitely was on the Eagles radar and they had the chance to sort of pick me up but it’s each their own,” Banfield said after the draft.

“They’ve watched enough footy of me and I guess if they saw better possibilities, that’s how it works out. I’m overjoyed to join the Saints, a great club and I feel like I could fit in there really well.

“I did everything I could so to get to this moment, I’m over the moon.”