St Kilda is loaded with a pair of top 10 selections for the 2024 AFL Draft, being one of two clubs with multiple selections in the first eight spots in this year's queue.
Those two selections make up half of their draft hand and will give them access to a pair of top-rated teenagers later this month in what shapes as a critical draft for the Saints, who haven't had an opening selection this early since Max King six years ago.
The year before that, the Saints held Picks 7 and 8 and couldn't quite capitalise, taking Hunter Clark and the departed Nick Coffield with those selections, respectively.
Looking to break back into premiership contention while topping up their list with promising young talent, 2024 might give St Kilda the spark it needs for the long haul.
Draft Hand
Picks:ย 7, 8, 32, 47
The free agency compensation for Josh Battle will give the Saints two stabs in the top 10 in what looms as a strong draft group, with Picks 7 and 8 also allowing St Kilda consecutive calls and the ability to package their picks and move up higher if they choose to assess that avenue.
A trade including those picks is unlikely, though, but the Saints could look to split Pick 8 into a later select and an early 2025 pick should a rival come forward with an enticing offer.
The Saints' third selection - Pick 32 - falls midway through the second round of the draft and could come before a bid on one of their club-tied teenagers, while their final selection of Pick 47 is likely needed to match said bid.
Look out for St Kilda to potentially force the hand of other clubs on the opening night of the draft, with their early pair of picks a chance bid on Essendon NGA talent Isaac Kako or Gold Coast Academy gun Leonardo Lombard.
List Needs
Midfield Power:ย Some Power and pace through the middle is sure to be an area of focus for the Saints atop the draft, with a highly-rated midfield prospect expected to fetch a bid from Stephen Silvagni's team at Pick 7 and/or Pick 8. A fresh face that can complement current ball winners Jack Steele, Jack Sinclair, Brad Crouch and fellow emerging assets Marcus Windhager and Mattaes Phillipou would be perfect. The Saints could have access to multiple top-tier midfielders when they're first on the clock for this year's intake, meaning they'll need to decide whether they select one or two players who can add to their engine room or split one for a midfielder and the other elsewhere.
Key Position Support:ย Six of the 10 players who have left the Saints this off-season were key position players, seeing the club open up several spots in their tall player pecking order that could be filled at the draft. Among those departures was veteran forward Tim Membrey, who kicked the second most goals for the Saints this year and was No.1 among key forwards. The next best was Max King, who could only manage a dozen appearances while dealing with injuries. Perhaps a new tall forward coming through the ranks could be what's needed for the Saints, slotting into an attacking tandem with King and the high-leaping pair of Mitch Owens and Cooper Sharman.
Academy/Father-Son Access: The Saints have access to a trio of teenagers they have first dibs on, with Next Generation Academy pair Adrian Cole and Lenox Hofmann both having a chance to land at Moorabbin. Elwood Peckett - the son of 252-game ex-Saint Justin - is also tied to the club. St Kilda could look to have list spots vacant for all three players, with rookie spots perhaps more likely for Hofmann and Peckett. New draft changes allow the Saints the ability to pre-list Peckett as a rookie should he not be selected in the national intake. The club has also committed to drafting one player from the Sandringham Zebras to its rookie list, with all three of Cole, Hofmann and Peckett eligible after making their VFL debuts this year.
Potential Targets
Sid Draper:ย The South Australian would be a dream recruit for the Saints with their first pick, with Draper needing to slide outside of his expected draft range to fall in their lap. It's not impossible, given the level field of top-line onballers on offer from this year's pool of prospects. Draper is a speedy and explosive midfielder who could slot straight into Ross Lyon's plane for Round 1 next year, having dominated at the SANFL level in 2024 across a six-game spell for South Adelaide. If not Draper, then Eastern Ranges bull Josh Smillie or the smaller-framed Murphy Reid from the Sandringham Dragons may be considered.
Harry Armstrong:ย A local product out of Ormond, Armstrong is seen as the leading key forward prospect on offer this year and would need to be swooped on by the Saints at Pick 7 or Pick 8 for him to don the red, white and black. Armstrong is a powerful aerial presence and a clean kick for goal who could work nicely with the aforementioned King in Lyon's front third. The Saints have expressed a desire to recruit local talent, and Armstrong might be the best on offer this year. His teammate Luke Trainor - a formidable key defender who is a clean user of the ball and a strong interceptor - is another name to be considered in the first round.
Adrian Cole:ย Arguably the Saints' best club-tied talent for 2024, with NGA prospect Cole enjoying a strong year with the Sandringham Dragons in their premiership campaign. Often going head-to-head with the country's best key forwards, Cole held firm for both the Dragons and Vic Metro while also getting a look at VFL level with a pair of appearances for the Sandy Zebras. Expect Cole to fetch a rival bid in the second half of the draft, while Lenox Hofmann could also earn a selection before the end of the National Draft. Elwood Peckett may be listed as a rookie at the cessation of the main intake.
