St Kilda wants to plunder three stars at the draft to justify its trade strategy

ST KILDA concedes its high-risk trade strategy will only pay off it can plunder three stars from next month’s national draft.

Jack Billings is tipped to join St Kilda with pick 3. Picture: Paul Loughnan

ST KILDA concedes its high-risk trade strategy will only pay off it can plunder three stars from next monthÂ’s national draft.

The Saints seem likely to recruit ex-Pie Darren Jolly this week as a ruck backup, then will turn their attention to November 21’s national draft.

They have not ruled out recruiting three midfielders with their first three picks given the lack of key talls early in the draft.

List manager Ameet Baines said yesterday the Saints expected Greater Western Sydney to take Victorians Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly with the draft’s first two selections.

But the Saints have the first Victorian selection (no. 3) as well as two more picks — 18 and 19.

The Herald Sun’s phantom draft has them taking Oakleigh half forward Jack Billings at pick three, and Baines said the Saints believed they could strike gold twice more.

SUPERFOOTY'S PHANTOM DRAFT

“We have done the hard work to set up our draft position with three picks in the first round, so that part is ticked off,’’ he said.

“Now we need to execute to get the right players in the door. We are very confident we will. Our guys led by national recruiting manager Tony Elshaugh are very thorough, and you would like to think since this team has been together we have been pretty sound (with our selections).

“If we didn’t have that confidence why would you be doing what we did (trading out Nick Dal Santo and Ben McEvoy?)’’.

St Kilda has made eight primary list changes yet do not share the pessimism of others about the national draft’s depth.

Baines believes there are seven clear standouts, and is then leaning towards taking midfielders at 18 and 19 after last year recruiting talls Tom Lee and Spencer White.

“The first round you are still inclined to draft the best available and if is probably heavier on midfielders in that part of the draft compared to next year where more talks could go there. Like a few teams we need to improve our midfield depth, having got in some key defenders in the trade period. If you are really thorough you should be comfortable picking in the range we will be in.’’

St Kilda has effectively traded out Dal Santo and McEvoy in exchange for picks 3, 18, 19, Shane Savage, ruckman Billy Longer, North Melbourne’s Luke Delaney and GWS defender Josh Bruce.

The Saints were one of a handful of clubs to meet with controversial Swan Districts talent Dayle Garlett outside of the draft combine.

But they will have only those three picks and no pre-season pick, so would have to wait until the rookie draft if they were to recruit him.

Baines said the Saints would decide this week on Jolly, who has no other AFL suitors at this stage.

“It is a genuine possibility. We have to sit down internally and take stock of where the trade period has taken us and where it leads us, and we will also sit down with (his manager) Paul Connors this week.”