Jason Gram Biography

Sacked Saint Jason Gram has urged St Kilda to stand by Stephen Milne and allow him to play against Melbourne despite rape charges.

"I love Milney, he's one of my best mates, and I do hope the club stand by him, just like I hoped and think they should have with me'' Gram told the Herald Sun.

"He's one of the greats of the St Kilda football club.''

Jason Gram admits that he resents St Kilda for sacking him.

"I had some personal issues but I don't think the club needed to jump on board and sack me," Gram saic.

"I am shattered that my football career ended like that. I spent nine years at St Kilda. I barracked for St Kilda as a kid, and I love the St Kilda football club, but there are a few things I don't love there."

St Kilda terminates the playing contract of Jason Gram for failing to heed warnings over his behaviour after the midfielder was charged with stalking.

"Obviously, we are disappointed to terminate Jason's playing contract with the Saints but unfortunately he has failed to meet the values shared across the St Kilda Football Club," St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said.

The Saints' decision has concerned the AFLPA.

"We understand a club's right to delist a player. However, while not understating the seriousness of the alleged conduct, the Players Association does not believe these matters remove the club from its contractual obligations," AFLPA player relations general manager Ian Prendergast said.

The Saints have also released a statement regarding the termination of Gram's contract.

"Following charges laid against Gram on September 6 this year, the Club in consultation with the AFL and AFLPA imposed an indefinite suspension on Gram and facilitated his participation in an AFLPA counselling program," the statement said.

"Regrettably, the inappropriate behaviour has continued and his manager was advised yesterday that the Club had decided to terminate Gram's contract, which had one year to run."

Seven years after his career looked to have stalled, St Kilda's Jason Gram plays his 150th game against his former club this weekend.

"I pretty much begged for a one-year contract to (former Saints coach) Grant Thomas at the end of '05," Gram said.

"He gave me that one year, and that pre-season I did everything I could to show I deserved to be here, (and) 2006 was my breakout season I guess. If I hadn't have done that, I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now."

St Kilda defender Jason Gram could miss the first month of the season after injuring his hamstring while playing for Sandringham in its practice match win over Port Melbourne.

A thigh strain was the reason behind Jason Gram's appearance in the VFL on the weekend, say St Kilda.

"Early in the week his preparation wasn't quite where we thought it would be to get him to the line for the weekend," St Kilda General Manager of Football Greg Hutchison said.

"Because you have to make your decisions for your teams on Friday we had to leave him out."

Rebounding St Kilda defender Jason Gram is in doubt for Sunday's game against Brisbane.

Gram is battling a thigh injury and did not train at Moorabbin today.

Jason Gram's move to the middle last year has boosted the Saints ranks considerably.

"Ross wanted to get more depth in the midfield, and he wanted to do that from about half-way through last year," Gram said after the Saints' 83-point win over Fremantle on Saturday night.

"He didn't want us relying on just Dal, Hayes and Ball, so he introduced myself, Goddard, Jones, Farren Ray, all those guys.

"I'm loving it in the midfield, and every now and then if I have to go back, I'll go back."

St Kilda's Jason Gram admits he's still quiet off the field but is constantly working on his match impact.

"Normally I'm pretty quiet," Gram said.

"On-field I think that's where everyone lets loose.

"So I'll chat away and do everything to help the team during the game. But off the field I'm a bit more laid-back and listen to what other people have to say.

"If I've got something to say I'll say it, but otherwise I'm probably naturally quiet."

Jason Gram signs a two-year contract extension with St Kilda, keeping him under contract with the club till 2010.

"I barracked for the club as a kid, so to be here for another two years, and hopefully the rest of my career if it all turns out, it's all good," Gram said.

St Kilda claim the 2008 pre-season NAB Cup title after edging the Crows in a tight and scrappy affair played in sweltering conditions at AAMI stadium.

Jason Gram is awarded the Michael Tuck medal for being best on ground in the final.