St Kilda in a good position to target another big-name recruit in the off-season

ST KILDA is locked and loaded for an assault on another big gun in the off-season, despite its setback with new recruit Jake Carlisle.

Saints Paddy McCartin marksl during the game between Hawthorn and St Kilda at Aurora Stadium

ST KILDA is locked and loaded for an assault on another big gun in the off-season, despite its setback with new recruit Jake Carlisle.

The club’s successful retention strategy has seen it sign up every young priority target while still leaving salary-cap space to bid for another star.

St Kilda had already banked salary-cap room this year under a new rule that allows clubs to use one year’s savings in the following season’s salary cap.

Now having had to pay Carlisle for only four months of a 12-month contract, it can use that cash saving to add to its war chest.

The Saints would ideally consider a 26 or 27-year-old free agent given it is still some years from the premiership window.

After successfully luring star forward Josh Bruce, rapidly improving ruckman Tom Hickey and long-kicking defender Shane Savage, the club will continue a similar strategy.

St Kilda does not have a second-round draft selection this November, given its acquisition of ex-Collingwood midfielder Nathan Freeman.

Carlisle has been banned by WADA along with his former Essendon teammates this year, losing a $50,000 marketing component of his estimated $600,000-a-year salary.

The Saints acquired Nathan Freeman in a trade last year. Picture: Michael Klein

But even on conservative estimates, the Saints will have an extra $300,000 in their salary cap from his issues next year to help lure another player.

If they were already $500,000 under this year’s salary cap, it could hand them a total of $800,000 more than clubs with full caps to secure a player.

Star midfielder Leigh Montagna has already signed a one-year contract extension despite turning 33 next November.

The club is keen for Sean Dempster, 32, and Nick Riewoldt, 33, to play on next year given their exceptional form.

Dempster has finished top-three in the club’s best-and-fairest in three of the past four seasons.

Neither club or player are in a hurry to sign an extension, with a one-year deal a fait accompli later in the year, barring a catastrophic injury for Dempster.

St Kilda fans have impatiently scrutinised the development of No.1 draft pick Patrick McCartin, given the development of his 2014 draft alumni Angus Brayshaw, Darcy Moore and Jake Lever.

But a pair of amazing contested marks in the past fortnight have renewed their faith, despite him narrowly missing a set shot to win last week’s clash against Hawthorn.

St Kilda’s public “road map” to success sees the club in the top four by 2018 and having won its second flag by 2020.

That framework saw the club declare in 2014 it would be in the market for a free agent by this year after a “very challenging” 2015-16 seasons.

If anything, St Kilda has fast-tracked its development with six wins and a draw last year and an encouraging start this season.

Originally published as St Kilda in a good position to target another big-name recruit in the off-season