Paddy Dow's move to St Kilda was months in the making, with Saints coach Ross Lyon in constant conversation with the departed Carlton midfielder through to the trade period that saw the former No.3 overall pick head to Moorabbin.
Dow was moved to the Saints last week as part of a four-club trade that also included the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, with the uncontracted onballer getting his wish of a move away from Princes Park.
That request came months after the wheels were first put in motion, with Lyon and former Blues list manager Stephen Silvagni eyeing Dow's signature during the season.
Silvagni drafted Dow to Carlton in 2017 and will now reunite with the 24-year-old at St Kilda from this pre-season.
"There were conversations that started a few months ago with Ross and SOS (Silvagni) and their recruiting team," Dow said.
"After chats with them, it made the decision pretty easy and the things I could potentially provide for this club [know]. When it got done I was very glad and looked forward to getting started.
"There were a couple of text messages from Ross (earlier in the year) just providing a bit of support and things like that. I know SOS from Carlton and through my draft, we had a bit of a relationship and he definitely made it pretty easy too."
Dow will link up with former Blues teammate Liame Stocker in the red, white and black, while Saints duo Ben Paton and Hunter Clark are also known to the Saints' newest recruit through their junior playing days for Vic Country.
The pacey midfielder has also linked up with some of his new teammates on the track, with a handful of Saints players training together earlier this week.
Keen to offer speed to Lyon's midfield pack, Dow is confident his best football is ahead of him as he prepares for his seventh season in the AFL and first with St Kilda.
"I think the first five-six years of my career I've definitely learned a lot along the way, and I feel like I can only improve from here and hopefully provide something to the football club," he added,
"I think I've always played my best footy through the midfield. So I feel like that's probably the position that I can add to.
"Hopefully add some speed. I think that's probably my point of difference.
"...it's very exciting. I'm glad the deal is all done and now I get can get stuck into training."
Dow joined wantaway Fremantle utility Liam Henry in being traded to St Kilda this off-season, with the Saints parting with defender Nick Coffield in the same deal that saw them acquire Dow from Carlton.
St Kilda also lost midfield-forward Jade Gresham to Essendon through free agency, with Pick 21 coming their way as compensation.
The Saints currently hold Picks 13, 21, 40 and 92 for next month's National Draft.
