St Kilda pulls off five big trades to transform team for first season under Brett Ratten

St Kilda completed five deals which could transform the club into a finals contender in its first season under Brett Ratten. Sam Landsberger assesses how the Saints could line-up in Round 1, 2020.

Bradley Hill wants to be traded to St Kilda.

St Kilda’s last week might be its most crucial since it was playing off in Grand Finals under Ross Lyon.

In order of importance, Brad Hill, 26, (Fremantle), Zak Jones, 24, (Sydney), Dougal Howard, 23, (Port Adelaide), Paddy Ryder, 31, (Port Adelaide) and Dan Butler, 23, (Richmond) are all headed to the Saints.

Suddenly Moorabbin is a hotter destination than the Maldives. It’s remarkable, given St Kilda hasn’t played finals since 2011 and sacked its coach in July.

Not since 2000 — when St Kilda landed Malcolm Blight as coach, Fraser Gehrig, Aaron Hamill and Stephen Lawrence in trades and then drafted Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke — has bayside been so popular.

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Bradley Hill wants to be a St Kilda player.

So does Zak Jones. Picture: Getty

After securing their high five they are the kings of October.

The membership department would be doing cartwheels, because the 50,000 target would seem a lot closer with five fresh yet familiar faces to sell.

That new quintet will help power-up all parts of the ground, too.

Hill brings cream to a vanilla team and, combined with Jones, provides an injection of pace that could prove lethal under the Marvel Stadium roof.

Howard — a 199cm athlete who runs like the wind — can stand in either goalsquare, while Ryder will make life far easier for emerging ruckman Rowan Marshall.

Premiership forward Butler, who cost little more than a packet of chips, will bring the kind of pressure that Alan Richardson has probably felt under for the past two years.

And add to that the most-hyped Saint in some time, Max King, who will be ready to dust off Riewoldt’s No.12 jumper come Round 1.

Port Adelaide swingman Dougal Howard has requested a trade to St Kilda. Picture: Sarah Reed

And then there’s backline buddies Dylan Roberton, who hasn’t played in 18 months, Jimmy Webster (eight games last year) and captain Jarryn Geary (five games last year).

Imagine the healthy competition for spots at pre-season, when players rock in and realise the talent they suddenly have to compete with?

The Round 1 team will be almost unrecognisable, and it needed to be.

New coach Brett Ratten wanted to rejuvenate the stale Saints and after a massive trade period, that has become a reality.

Dylan Roberton is set to return next season after taking time away from the game to deal with his health after heart scares. Picture: Michael Klein

Is it the rat cunning of Graeme “Gubby” Allen, who helped North Melbourne broker trades for Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard and Aaron Hall last year?

Or the Ned Flanders-like positivity of Ratten?

“He’s awesome,” Jack Billings told the Sunday Herald Sun on Brownlow night.

“His relationships with all the players and the way he sees the game — he’s got a really high footy IQ, which is important — and a really positive guy.”

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Gary Buckenara analyses St Kilda’s list after the 2019 season

Jack Riewoldt confident Richmond will maintain its hunger as it chases back-to-back premierships

What about new-age list manager James Gallagher? The modern man, so relatable to players and managers alike, has been a breath of fresh air.

The answer is all of the above. Throw in legends Billy Slater and Jarryd Roughead and the move away from Seaford and the Saints are on the brink of bringing sexy back.

Originally published as St Kilda pulls off five big trades to transform team for first season under Brett Ratten