Mark Robinson: After fluffing 2017 draft, Saints can change their destiny by nailing picks 7 and 8

The last time the Saints had picks 7 and 8 in the draft, they chose Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield and missed a host of stars. Mark Robinson writes, it can’t happen again. Over to you, Simon Dalrymple.

The last time St Kilda had picks No. 7 and No. 8 in the national draft – in 2017 – they fluffed it.

In search of midfield talent – when are they not? – the Saints punted on Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield. Clark has ability, but the best ability is availability and 98 games in seven years is a career pockmarked with excuses.

Coffield, who was also injury-prone, played 52 games in four years at the Saints before being traded to the Western Bulldogs ahead of the 2024 season. He didn’t play a single game for the Saints in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Unlucky no doubt, but he has been a bust at pick No.8.

Nick Coffield and Hunter Clark were picked by the Saints in 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

Clark less so, but he hasn’t reached the heights of many No. 7s selected over the years. They include Joel Selwood (2006), Andrew Mackie (2002), Jordan Lewis (2004), Patrick Ryder (2005), Daniel Rich (2007), Josh Caddy (2010), Ollie Wines (2012), Jack Scrimshaw (2016) and Hayden Young (2019).

Opting for Clark and Coffield in what was talent-rich draft, they ignored the likes of Aaron Naughton (No. 9), Darcy Fogarty (No. 12), Zac Bailey (No. 15), Oscar Allen (No. 21), Tim Kelly (No. 24), Liam Ryan (No. 26), Brent Daniels (No. 27), Sam Taylor (No. 28), Tom De Koning (No. 30), Bayley Fritsch (No. 31), Tom McCartin (No. 33), James Worpel (No. 45), Gryan Miers (No. 57) and Dylan Moore (No. 67).

The Saints can ill-afford to miss again with picks No. 7 and No.8.

Herald Sun draft expert Chris Cavanagh suggests midfielders Josh Smillie, Harvey Langford and Murphy Reid will be in the mix at that time, and if they want a key position player, Harry Armstrong (forward) and Luke Trainor (defender) will be the two main options.

The Saints also have access to two good Next Generation Academy players later in the draft, defenders Adrian Cole and Lennox Hofmann, so it looms as a huge draft haul.

But success and failure sits with picks No. 7 and No. 8 and clearly the pressure is on Simon Dalrymple, the former Bulldogs and Swans recruiter, to nail the selections in his first time at bat at the Saints.

“We are definitely going to the draft,’’ Saints football boss David Misson said.

“Obviously some stuff can happen right up to – and on – draft night in regards to picks, but we’re committed to going to the draft to bring in young talent.’’

Misson baulked at the obvious suggestion the Saints would target midfield talent.

“We’ll just take the best players with the picks,’’ he said. “I couldn’t stand here and say we’re only going to pick mids, we’ll see what players are there and we’ll take the best.’’

Harvey Langford could be a target for the Saints. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Saints have been a curious list build over the past dozen years. Since the powerhouse days of 2008-2011, they have not successfully recruited to stay in contention – like Geelong and Sydney – and nor have they bottomed out – like North Melbourne, Carlton and Hawthorn for example.

It has left them in no-man’s land. Ladder-finishes going back from this year have been 12th, sixth, 10th, 10th, sixth, 14th, 16th, 11th, ninth, 14th, 18th and 16th.

They bungled two drafts other than in 2017, mind you, taking Paddy McCartin over Christian Petracca in 2014 and Jack Billings ahead of Marcus Bontempelli in 2013.

The Saints have attacked the draft in recent years, but Misson insists the Saints are not in a rebuild phase.

“We’re definitely not rebuilding, we’re running what we call a dual narrative, where we’re committed to going to the draft and we’re also going to explore free agents and experienced players,” he said.

“We brought in Liam Henry, Paddy Dow and Riley Bonner in last year as well, and obviously got Jack Macrae this year.

“It’s not a rebuild by any means, but we recognise that we’ve got to go to the draft to bring in new talent. The research will tell us that’s the blueprint to build a premiership list.

“We feel we’ve had three pretty good drafts – with (Mitch) Owens, (Marcus) Windhager and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, then the (Mattaes) Phillipou draft and last year as well.’’

Saints football boss David Misson. Picture: Michael Klein

With a healthy salary cap at their disposal, the Saints will target free agents next year.

“We’re in pretty reasonable shape and I think every club’s TPP (total player payments) would be in good shape just because of the uplift through the CBA,’’ Misson said.

“But we’ve worked hard to put ourselves in a good position.’’

It doesn’t have to be said, but until North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke re-signs for the Kangaroos, he and the Saints will be linked.

Firstly, though, it’s the plum picks at No. 7 and No. 8 that they need to get right, and history tells us that two gun midfielders can change a club’s destiny.

In 2018, Port Adelaide secured Connor Rozee (No. 5) and Zak Butters (No. 12) and, in 2019, Fremantle nabbed Hayden Young (No. 7) and Caleb Serong (No. 8).

Over to you, Simon Dalrymple.

Originally published as Mark Robinson: After fluffing 2017 draft, Saints can change their destiny by nailing picks 7 and 8