St Kilda are among the handful of AFL clubs who have multiple first-round picks for the 2023 National Draft after a busy trade and free agency window.
The Saints manoeuvered their way through their first player movement period since Ross Lyon's return to Moorabbin, while November's talent intake will be his second in his new stint as senior coach.
Free agency compensation has seen the Saints double their draft hand for the opening night of the count, with night two likely to be a touch quieter given their depleted set of selections past Pick 21.
With the Saints hoping to remain in finals contention next year while topping up their list with some of the best emerging talent in the country, we've previewed their list needs and the potential prospects they could target at this year's draft.
Draft Hand
Picks: 13, 21, 40, 92
A successful trade window saw the Saints lure Liam Henry and Paddy Dow to Moorabbin without list manager Stephen Silvagni parting with his first-round selection, while Pick 21 was handed to them as compensation for the loss of free agent Jade Gresham to Essendon.
That leaves St Kilda as one of five clubs who currently hold multiple first-round picks for the draft and could even plan to trade their way up the order by packaging their pair of selections or utilising their opening pick for 2024.
Both Picks 13 and 21 are likely to be pushed back several spots and could read as 16 and 26 by the end of the draft's opening night, while Pick 40 is expected to increase its place in the queue given six Gold Coast selections sit in front of it and will be dissolved as part of the Academy bidding process.
If needed, the Saints can return to the draft late into the count with their fifth-round selection of Pick 92, however the club is likely to entertain open list spots ahead of the Rookie Draft, or more likely the Supplemental Selection Period.
List Needs
Key Position Depth:ย Whether it be in defence or within Ross Lyon's attacking plans, some more height or key position flexibility will help strengthen the Saints' long-term thinking. Greater support for Max King outside of Tim Membrey will be needed, with Jack Hayes facing setback after setback while Isaac Keeler, Matt Allison and Max Heath are all unproven. Down back the Saints would prefer another tall defender for insurance, with Dougal Howard and Josh Battle both unsigned beyond next year, while James Van Es is another youngster needing time.
Midfield Grunt:ย Lyon made it quite clear in the wake of his side's finals exit that more inside midfield support is needed, both now and for the long haul. The Saints are well-stocked with outside runners in Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and new recruit Liam Henry, but on the inside they'll be keen to find long-term replacements for the likes of Seb Ross and Brad Crouch, who both sit past the 30 age mark next year. Adding to lockdown midfielder Marcus Windhager and excitement machines Mitch Owens and Mattaes Phillpou, a big-bodied midfield presence who can win his own ball and still provide some run would be fitting for the Saints to consider.
The Best Available:ย At Pick 13 (which could read as Pick 16 or 17 on draft night) the Saints will find themselves with one of the last selections before the standard of talent may fall away a touch. When on the clock, Stephen Silvagni could go down the route of taking the top talent left on their list, with no area in St Kilda's squad necessarily brimming with a suite of stars. There's a live chance an exciting prospect could slip to the Saints' opening selection and make their decision much easier.
Potential Targets
Archer Reid:ย Gippsland forward Archer Reid is one of the best key forwards available among this year's draft class, with the younger brother of Bomber Zach Reid a promising 203cm target who could also pinch-hit in the ruck to support first-string tall Rowan Marshall. Reid is a prospect who would be best suited to St Kilda's second pick at the draft, while local defender Ollie Murphy is another key position prospect for Silvagni to consider with one of his two first-round picks.
Kane McAuliffe:ย The Saints have had strong ties to the best talent out of South Australia under national recruitment boss Chris Toce, and McAuliffe could be a name in his sights late into the draft. The North Adelaide midfielder is a workhorse at the coalface, using his strength at the contest to win the ball and showcase his strong tackling. Dandenong's Cooper Simpson is another prospect that might be of interest to the Saints with their third selection, while Silvagni very well could be the one pulling the trigger on bods for Suns Academy gun Jake Rogers and Sydney-linked midfielder Caiden Cleary with Picks 13 and 21 respectively.
Koltyn Tholstrup:ย At Pick 13, Tholstrup is a live chance to be the leading prospect still on offer to the Saints. The Subiaco livewire would slot into a role left open by Jade Gresham's exit, with the talented teenager offering some spark in the forward line and an ability to play through midfield. Tasmanian James Leake is another who could slide to the Saints' opening selection if they're lucky.
