LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower product James Barrat is now officially an AFL footballer, with the Bendigo Pioneers product picked up by St Kilda on Thursday night at the AFL National Draft.

Barrat was selected by the Saints with the 32nd pick in the draft and will join fellow Bendigo Pioneer Tobie Travaglia at the club, after he was selected 24 hours earlier.

It has been a long road for Barrat to realise ...