St Kilda find themselves well positioned for the future after a productive trade period, according to Chief Operating Officer Ameet Bains. 

List Management staff walked out of Etihad Stadium after 2pm yesterday having addressed midfield and backline concerns by acquiring Jack Steele, Koby Stevens and Nathan Brown, while also improving their draft hand.

The club will head into next month’s NAB AFL Draft with two second round picks in 23 and 36, while also obtaining an all important second first round selection for 2017.

Speaking to SAINTS.com.au, Bains outlined the need to bridge the gulf in draft picks that stemmed from deals for midfielders Nathan Freeman last year and Jack Steele in the trade period gone by.

“In terms of the gap that we had in our draft board this year, we obviously started with our first pick, but we didn’t have a subsequent pick until the mid 40s so it was important to fill that gap,” Bains said.

“We now have two picks inside of that and still retained a first round pick, albeit we have two next year rather than one this year.”

While discussions were held with clubs to move back into this year’s first round, St Kilda will head into next year with flexibility at the trade table and on draft night.

“We were still keen to trade back into the first round and had a number of discussions with clubs.” Bains said.

“In the end, no club was really able to do that by swapping picks, it was more by trading players were you able to achieve that.

“We feel we go into the 2017 end of season period in a very strong position to either go to the draft and bring in really talented kids through the first round or have great currency when it comes to trading in quality players.”

In acquiring Jack Steele for a future second round pick and Koby Stevens in a swap of picks, the Saints bolster a young midfield and create depth in that position. 

Sealing the big bodied midfielders was part of a plan to continue closing the gap on the AFL’s elite, particularly their deep running midfields.

“I think you always take your cues from the teams that are at the top of the game,” Bains said.

“There are examples like the Bulldogs, Swans and Giants, who have incredibly deep midfields and in any one game have 13/14 guys that might play through the midfield.

"We felt that we have been lacking there at times during the year, so to bring in a couple of guys of that ilk, and particularly someone who is experienced like Koby and with his size and stature was important.” 

Bains and the recruiting team can ill afford to put the feet up, with all roads now leading to next month’s draft.

While the night doesn’t begin until pick 23 for St Kilda, that won’t stop the due diligence and thorough process to find the club’s next superstar.

“We’ve got an overwhelming majority of information now post the Combine – its just the fine tuning analysis that occurs from now.” Bains said.

“With our first pick at 23, I guess there are a number of guys who were in the frame for our pick 10 who we wouldn’t spend too much time on, but we still need to go through our normal process with ranking our draft board, 

“Its just that our first pick will be a little later.”

St Kilda has picks 23, 36, 61, 86, 104, 122 and 140 in the AFL Draft. 

IN:

Players – Jack Steele, Koby Stevens, Nathan Brown
Picks – 23, 36, 61
2017 Future Picks – Round 1 (Haw), Round 4 (North) 

OUT:

Picks - 10, 50, 68
2017 Future Picks – Round 2, Round 5