One of the greatest players to never play AFL has been poached to lead a rugby fortress across the ditch.

VFL legend Nick Sautner has been appointed general manager of New Zealand’s Eden Park – the country’s largest stadium.

Sautner, a nine-time Ian ‘Frosty’ Miller medallist as the VFL’s leading goalkicker, was previously chief commercial operator and general manager at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, where he was being groomed to be the heir to outgoing chief executive Ian Collins.

The Sandringham Zebras champion later became chief commercial officer of the West Australian Football Commission.

The flamboyant Saunter, who booted 873 goals in an outstanding 260-game VFL career, is considered one of the unluckiest players to never make it onto an AFL list after more than a decade dominating the goal square in second-tier leagues.

His most recent appointment could prove a coup for St Kilda. Sautner, a Saints fan, should be in the ideal position to help the club achieve its goal of playing regular games in New Zealand.