St. Kilda have been a far-cry from the inspired outfit they were in season 2020, with this year proving bitterly disappointing for the most part.
However based off of recent weeks' results, the Saints might not be in as dire as a position as they first thought, beating Richmond as well as outlasting Collingwood to stay in touch with the top eight.
Despite this there are still deficiencies in Brett Ratten's squad that need to be addressed, meaning activity in the trade period might be pertinent to the Saints campaign next year.
5 Trade Targets: Adelaide
5 Trade Targets: Brisbane
5 Trade Targets: Carlton
5 Trade Targets: Collingwood
5 Trade Targets: Essendon
5 Trade Targets: Fremantle
5 Trade Targets: Geelong
5 Trade Targets: Gold Coast
5 Trade Targets: GWS
5 Trade Targets: Hawthorn
5 Trade Targets: Melbourne
5 Trade Targets: North Melbourne
5 Trade Targets: Port Adelaide
5 Trade Targets: Richmond
We continue our ‘Five trade targets for every club’ series with St. Kilda.
In no particular order, here are five players which the Saints recruitment team would do well to target and potentially poach.
One half of the King twins is still yet to put pen to paper on a deal that will see him past the end of his contract in 2022, and it is the northern-most one in Ben.
The 21-year-old is having a fantastic year for the Suns and has developed into a genuine key forward in the three years he has had at AFL level.
So far in season 2021, King has booted 38 goals in 15 games for Stuart Dew's side and has looked fantastic value for a player of his age.
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The Melbourne-native's goal tally has him fourth in the Coleman Medal race and he is ranked 6th in the league for total marks inside 50s, meaning he has a great pair of hands on him.
There is no question that Saints fans would love nothing more than to see the literal definition of 'twin towers' running amuck in their forward-line, and with brother Max signing a long-term deal with the club recently, it seems it is written in the stars for Ben to return home and partner up with him.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
The Giants defender is out of contract at the end of season 2022, and will there will be no shortage of suitors wanting to get the young gun to sign on the dotted line for their respective clubs.
Taylor has had a stellar albeit injury-marred year for GWS, with his most recent of ailments being an ankle injury which required surgery and has kept him off-field for the best part of two months.
Nonetheless in the time that the 22-year-old has had to strut his stuff, he has impressed massively.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
Taylor is ranked 7th in the league for intercepts per game, averages 5.1 one-on-ones per game as well as 2.1 tackles per game - all elite level stats for a key defender.
Despite being from WA, Taylor could easily be tempted to make the switch down to Melbourne and play for Brett Ratten with the right money. The Saints would do well to get the ball rolling on the youngster.
The Geelong big man has had a stunted time in his stint at the Cattery, not being able to hold down a spot in Chris Scott's best-22 for an extended period.
At just 23 years of age, Ratugolea still has his best footy ahead of him, however he needs the necessary game time to flourish and right now Geelong aren't giving it to him.
In the 47 games that fans have had to watch Ratugolea, he's had some impressive performances.
His ability to mark overhead is great and his work in the ruck is formidable as well, and with Paddy Ryder not getting any younger, Ratugolea could be the option that the Saints need.
He would be relatively cheap to secure considering the bit-part role he has at Geelong and his age means that the Saints have a real opportunity to tailor his play-style to their standards.
Combine this with the fact he is out of contract at season's end, Ratugolea is very much gettable.
Charlie Constable is a name that will be thrown around a lot this coming trade period should Chris Scott deem him expendable.
The 22-year-old hasn't been given the opportunities he would've hoped for in his short AFL career, only managing to chalk up 12 games since his debut in 2016.
In season 2021 the inside-mid hasn't made an appearance since Round 3 in the side's win against Hawthorn where he racked up 14 touches as the medical sub.
In the VFL last week Constable starred for the Cats in their win against Essendon, racking up 41 disposals and 13 clearances and was one of Geelong's best.
The truth is that the midfielder likely won't get the game-time he wants at Geelong, and with talk that rivals will come for him, it might be wise for the Saints to be amongst them.
Despite the plethora of mids that the Saints have, if Luke Dunstan does not sign-on and looks elsewhere, Constable could be just the man to replace him.
Tipped to be the biggest fish in the sea come trade period 2021, Josh Kelly will be due for a massive pay-packet wherever he plies his trade next year.
The GWS mid has been in superb form for his side in 2021, dazzling in his most recent outing against the Demons.
With news that the Bombers have pulled out of the race for Kelly, it means there is one less club that St. Kilda will have to worry about should they choose to pursue the Victorian-native.
Kelly doesn't need an introduction - clubs know they are getting a ready-made superstar that will comprehensively win the ball around the contest whilst also being a regular goal-threat.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
With reports that it will take in excess of $1 million per season to secure Kelly's signature, St. Kilda will have to break the bank to get him, however there is little question over whether he is worth the funds.
Following Dylan Roberton's pre-season retirement, the Saints are likely to have James Frawley and Jake Carlisle call it quits at the end of this season, as well as potentially offloading the likes of Jack Billings, Seb Ross or the oft-injured Dan Hannebery, there might just be room in the coffers at Moorabbin once again.