St Kilda Saints

Five trade targets for every AFL club: St Kilda Saints

A contracted Magpie, a Tigers defender and a former top 10 pick have been named as enticing potential targets for the Saints.

Published by
Mitch Keating

The Saints will be an intriguing figure come the off-season's arrival, with senior coach Ross Lyon set to have his first window of wheeling and dealing in 2023 after arriving at Moorabbin following the conclusion of last year's exchange period.

Currently, St Kilda have several senior figures heading toward the cessation of the season without a deal for next year, meaning opportunities are still on the horizon for the Moorabbin-based club.

After missing out on target Tom De Koning, the Saints are likely to have turned their attention elsewhere in recent weeks, and here we assess who they could look at to bolster their list.

Mostly considering off-contract players from across the competition, we name five potential targets for the Saints to consider.

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Hugo Ralphsmith

If the Saints are set to place attention toward 'Bayside' products, then their options for 2023 are scarce.

Among the players that fill the bill of being both from the area and off-contract is Ralphsmith, who would be an attractive asset for St Kilda to consider in more ways than one.

It's unlikely that Linton Street has an overwhelming pull over Punt Road given the close vicinity, but the Saints could look to offer Ralphsmith security at senior level with a specific role in mind.

Hugo Ralphsmith during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between Richmond and Fremantle (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

The fast-paced Tigers flanker could slot into a half-back role under Ross Lyon and would give star Saint Jack Sinclair the freedom to play midfield almost full-time.

Ralphsmith's arrival would greatly benefit his fellow mulleted man, with Sinclair and the Saints likely both wanting the reigning best and fairest winner offering his pace and poise in the middle of the field rather than in the backline.

Liam Henry

Henry is a name that has already been tied to the Saints this season, with the Dockers wingman likely to see a queue for his services forming once the off-season arrives.

After starting the season out of favour at Fremantle, Henry has taken his chance since returning to AFL level midway through the year in putting up career-best numbers across the board.

The Dockers have moved to sign up Sam Switkowski, Lachie Schultz, Bailey Banfield, Michael Frederick, Michael Walters and Sam Sturt over the past 18 months, with Henry looming as the odd man out.

Liam Henry during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between Richmond and Fremantle (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

While Fremantle have stated they're keen to retain Henry's services, the ball is well and truly in the young speedster's court.

A move to St Kilda would give the Saints that run and carry on the outside of their midfield group, working under Brad Hill and alongside the likes of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Dan McKenzie on the flanks.

Finlay Macrae

A contracted midfielder at Collingwood, however Macrae is said to have suitors lining up for his services given his inability to break into Craig McRae's side.

Macrae has been a consistent operator at VFL level this year, able to string together a consistent season as many around him yo-yo in and out of the senior side.

He is yet to earn a recall to the senior side this year after managing just two games last year and a further nine matches in his debut season the year prior.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Finlay Macrae of the Magpies in action during the 2021 AFL Round 19 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Collingwood Magpies at Marvel Stadium on July 23, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

A clean midfielder able to move into the middle or slot onto a wing, Macrae could be the man to move into a role currently held by veteran onballer Seb Ross at St Kilda.

The 21-year-old wouldn't come cheap despite his place on the fringes, with the Magpies having used a first-round selection on the Kew Rovers graduate.

Elijah Hollands

The second contracted player on our list, with Hollands said to be among a handful of Suns players gaining external interest despite being tied to Carrara for 2024.

Hollands' development with Gold Coast was initially stunted due to an ACL injury suffered early into his draft year of 2020, with the Wodonga product not making an appearance for the Suns' senior side until the back-end of his second year with the club.

A former Pick 7 selection, Hollands has managed 14 games since his debut in Round 19 last year, with the 21-year-old at times out-of-favour under former coach Stuart Dew.

Hollands featured in the Suns' first four games of this year before falling out of the side, not making a return until the game after Dew's sacking, with the Gold Coast midfielder playing all five games since.

Gold Coast SUNS' Elijah Hollands in action during the Round 21 match against Hawthorn. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

The change in the coaches' box could be what keeps Hollands in Queensland, but the Saints should be among the clubs showing some level of interest.

Unlike his brother Ollie at Carlton, Hollands is more of an explosive midfielder who can offer long-kicking and an ability to play both inside and out. Perhaps needing to fine-tune their midfield ensemble, the Saints could look at Hollands as a potentially gettable target that could add to their engine room.

Buku Khamis

Key position talent at either end of Ross Lyon's best 22 have been flagged as potential targets for rivals to look toward, with contracted pair Dougal Howard and Tim Membrey both said to be some chance of departing Moorabbin.

While perhaps unlikely, the Saints could look toward a name like Khamis who can fill a role at either the forward or defensive 50 given his versatile traits as a 191cm swingman.

The potential exits of Saints talls wouldn't be the only reason for the Dogs to look toward Khamis' signature in the off-season, with the 23-year-old able to offer plenty of competition at selection as a viable role player that can also be of value if injuries are to take their toll on Lypon's list like they did this year.

Off-contract and with just one AFL game to his name in 2023, Khamis has found opportunities hard to come by at the Kennel lately, with his traditional position as a forward target often limiting his exposure under Luke Beveridge as the likes of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, Rory Lobb and Sam Darcy often fall ahead of him in the selection pecking order.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 28: Buku Khamis of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the round 11 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on May 28, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Across Khamis' 15 appearances at VFL level this year, the athletic forward has booted 29 goals while still sharing some minutes in the backline.

A switch to St Kilda for the St Albans junior would not only present more opportunities for Khamis at senior level, but would give the Saints further flexibility at either end of the field.

Published by
Mitch Keating