List summary:
This time last year St Kilda were neck and neck with the Dees as the up-and-comers knocking on the door of the top eight. Fast forward and Melbourne made a preliminary final while the Saints had a year from hell, finishing 16th.
Some of what went wrong for St Kilda this year can be put down to stumbles in player development and failures in the coaches box, but list issues are apparent.
One of them is the sameness of their midfield. Steven, Ross, Armitage, Steele, Dunstan and Acres failed to complement each other this year and many of them share the same deficiencies in pace and skill.
St Kilda’s tall stocks also need boosting with rucks Longer and Hickey both out of favour. High key position draft picks Paddy McCartin and Hugh Goddard also struggled this year with Goddard ultimately delisted.
List changes:
The other delistings along with Goddard were Ray Connellan, Nathan Freeman, Sam Gilbert, Darren Minchington and Nathan Wright. Koby Stevens retired due to ongoing concussion issues.
Draft picks:
St Kilda hold national draft picks 3, 57, 61 and 63.
Draft target:
The Saints might look to take key forward Max King. The Sandringham talent missed 2018 with an ACL but most draft experts believe that will not scare off recruiters. King is a 201cm goal-kicker who is almost unstoppable in the air because of his massive wingspan. He is incredibly agile for his size and collects the ball easily off the ground.
Trade target:
It’s no secret that Dan Hannebery will be a Saint in 2019. The Swans star has already requested a trade but what is currently unknown is what it will cost the Saints. Hannebery is contracted until 2021 which gives the Swans bargaining power but they most likely want his hefty contract off their hands.
Best case scenario:
The best case scenario for the Saints would be the Hannebery move setting off a chain reaction that changes perceptions of the club. St Kilda has struggled to land the players they have chased and this could be a turning point.
