What exactly are we doing

[B.M]

In the trade period

We haven’t locked away extra picks

Haven’t targeted any players

We are a who heap of nothing! Irrelevant!

Fkn do something to improve a vanilla list!!!

[TheGreatZacsby]

No one wants to come to us except for duds in Macrae and Soldo.

No one wants our players like Hayes and Paton.

We tried to go big with our huge salary cap space in Wedieman, Merrett and LDU. No takers.

We made out like thieves with pick 8 compo in Battle.

What is there to do? Just pick two gun mids with pick 7 and 8.

Use second rounder to get best available talent - hoping a tall defender, lock down small defender or a developing ruck.

Use our 47 to pick up Cole.

Use Rookie draft to get the F/S (I forget his name).

No point in trading 8 to slide back or go forward when the top 10 are just as good as the number 1.

What is there to do B.M? What would you like to see?

[B.M]

So how have we really improved our list to go past other teams?!

We got pick 8 - which maybe an A Grader
But that just replaces an actual A Grader - Battle

We have pick 7 - first round. - so do most other clubs

We may bring in Jack Macrae - and that costs a pick
But lose Seb delisted and Crouch - retired - so that’s no gain

We delist depth
Paton, Hayes etc…

Other clubs are building their list - we are in no man’s land
Not getting any better!!!!

If our pick 7/8 don’t turn out to be A Graders - we are fkd!!!
And that is NO guarantee

[Yorkeys]

Seems clear what's up. Need to improve the midfield is absolute priority. Reportedly a strong mids draft; we use two picks in the top 10.
Why faf around with other teams dross or an expensive half back we don't need.
Smith is never going anywhere but Geelong and who in a right mind would haggle re Oliver.
It's not the Saints fault trade period is so unnecessarily long.
Bidding during the trade period is not compulsory, I understand.

[B.M]

What are the list management team doing to improve this list?!

Are they going to the draft
Like Richmond is, Hawthorn and North have done?!

Are they trading in talent
Like Geelong do, like Port do, like Freo is doing

Are they attracting FAs like Hawthorn has, like Essendon has, like Collingwood has?!

Exactly wtf are they doing

[SaintPav]

Where is SOS?

[Yorkeys]

Patience, all will be revealed.
But so far it's clear we acquired pick 8, have delisted a number of players and not gone silly for random homesick Adelaidian b graders.

[CURLY]

Fair thread considering there’s been 30 trades and we aren’t involved in any.

[Killa]

And in wades guess who?

Simply, we have 2 selections in the top 10 and where we are informed (by who?) that it is a “deep draft”, so hopefully 2 young players of the ilk of Wilson, Phillipou and Wanganeen-Milera

And that would satisfy me going into 2025

With the marketing circus the AFL promotes it appears to me that the “go home” factor is in play

Of those returning to Victoria the only player of note given his credentials is Houston and given we have Sinclair and Wanganeen-Milera as rebounding defenders, where does Houston fit into a St Kilda side?

I have put on this site that our requirements are support for Howard, Marshall and King - and this would appear confirmed by the approaches to the NM and Essendon rucks and to the Carlton key defender (noting the extension given to the King Contract, valuing him)

We have not been inactive in going after class including potential class as with the 2 ruckmen who have developed since

And we have approached the Essendon Captain - a class midfielder (which some present we need as distinct from developing)

The remainder players the media have their knickers in a knot over are not competition leading

And yes, we have been linked to a couple of these to add experienced depth

So what else do you expect?

Because the pickings are scarce particularly when you list those looking to return to Victoria or otherwise looking to improve their status by swapping Clubs

The loss of Battle is noted but the quest for the Carlton defender is the equation - and we have some kids who we will give opportunity to

The offers we have made have attracted attention at least, and if our kids and our experienced core can deliver the upward trajectory we crave it may just be the Managers will come to us (noting these “deals” are years out in the making)

[Beno88]

And in wades guess who?

Simply, we have 2 selections in the top 10 and where we are informed (by who?) that it is a “deep draft”, so hopefully 2 young players of the ilk of Wilson, Phillipou and Wanganeen-Milera

And that would satisfy me going into 2025

With the marketing circus the AFL promotes it appears to me that the “go home” factor is in play

Of those returning to Victoria the only player of note given his credentials is Houston and given we have Sinclair and Wanganeen-Milera as rebounding defenders, where does Houston fit into a St Kilda side?

I have put on this site that our requirements are support for Howard, Marshall and King - and this would appear confirmed by the approaches to the NM and Essendon rucks and to the Carlton key defender (noting the extension given to the King Contract, valuing him)

We have not been inactive in going after class including potential class as with the 2 ruckmen who have developed since

And we have approached the Essendon Captain - a class midfielder (which some present we need as distinct from developing)

The remainder players the media have their knickers in a knot over are not competition leading

And yes, we have been linked to a couple of these to add experienced depth

So what else do you expect?

Because the pickings are scarce particularly when you list those looking to return to Victoria or otherwise looking to improve their status by swapping Clubs

The loss of Battle is noted but the quest for the Carlton defender is the equation - and we have some kids who we will give opportunity to

The offers we have made have attracted attention at least, and if our kids and our experienced core can deliver the upward trajectory we crave it may just be the Managers will come to us (noting these “deals” are years out in the making)

This makes way too much sense Killa. Can’t you see that the sky is falling?

[SaintWiki]

Patience, all will be revealed.
But so far it's clear we acquired pick 8, have delisted a number of players and not gone silly for random homesick Adelaidian b graders.

Exactly. The two-bob commentators are carrying on like cheap watches but our club is not giving very much away. Surely we don't expect our staff to answer the calls from the shock-jocks and spill their guts. We have done pretty well with the hand of cards we've had in the last few years so I'm expecting the recruiters and list management staff to be quietly doing their job and I'll be judging them later.

[Sainter_Dad]

What are the list management team doing to improve this list?!

Are they going to the draft
Like Richmond is, Hawthorn and North have done?!

Are they trading in talent
Like Geelong do, like Port do, like Freo is doing

Are they attracting FAs like Hawthorn has, like Essendon has, like Collingwood has?!

Exactly wtf are they doing

Hey lets attack the draft like Richmond

Trade away Darcy Wilson
Trade away Nas
Trade Away Wilkie
Trade away Sinclair

These are the players with currency.

[B.M]

Why would you trade Nas and Darcy?

[Scollop]

Have a look at Melbourne FC.

They've got major problems but their recruiting team and list manager remain focused.

Melbourne are getting pick 9 from Essendon as well as having pick 5 for the upcoming National Draft..
that's after getting Windsor and Tholstrup last year.

That means they're in a very strong position again if they can sort out their off field s***

As long St Kilda is focused on the National Draft and picking the right players, that is what will drive the future success of the football club

[nostalgicsaint]

"Don't trade out of the draft"

Next minute

"Why aren't we trading"

If you don't think we have a great list and you want us to keep our draft picks.....

We've done a good job of generating value out of thin air the past few years but it isn't something you can do on demand.

[nostalgicsaint]

And the club has been saying for months we are going to the draft this year- it shouldn't be a surprise.

[Sainter_Dad]

Why would you trade Nas and Darcy?

Just wondering WTF you expect people to be doing at this stage of our development??

[Waltzing St Kilda]

I'm actually imnpressed that they haven't succumbed to the sugar rush of "doing something" just to please the half-@rsed pundits who are already preparing their RATING THE CLUBS TRADE WEEK columns.

Bring in as many A-grade kids as possible to see us through the lean years of the Tassie drafts.

[D.B.Cooper]

So how have we really improved our list to go past other teams?!

We got pick 8 - which maybe an A Grader
But that just replaces an actual A Grader - Battle

We have pick 7 - first round. - so do most other clubs

We may bring in Jack Macrae - and that costs a pick
But lose Seb delisted and Crouch - retired - so that’s no gain

We delist depth
Paton, Hayes etc…

Other clubs are building their list - we are in no man’s land
Not getting any better!!!!

If our pick 7/8 don’t turn out to be A Graders - we are fkd!!!
And that is NO guarantee

Gee Battle has improved in the last couple of weeks, on 25 September you wrote this about Josh in the ‘Battle’ thread.

He is a B Grade player

[Brunswicksainter]

Have a look at Melbourne FC.

They've got major problems but their recruiting team and list manager remain focused.

Melbourne are getting pick 9 from Essendon as well as having pick 5 for the upcoming National Draft..
that's after getting Windsor and Tholstrup last year.

That means they're in a very strong position again if they can sort out their off field s***

As long St Kilda is focused on the National Draft and picking the right players, that is what will drive the future success of the football club

Interesting hearing people’s opinions, I think Melbourne are on track for the worst off season in recent AFL history. They’ve retained two players who are extreme damaged goods both entering their thirties and don’t want to be a club, they traded away their pick next year (which will almost certainly be in the top 4-5) for pick nine, they’ve lost Neal bullen who is a more than handy player for nothing. They have no key forwards, a terribly aged defence, close to the worse crop of players under 22 of any side and you think they are doing well?

[Big Max]

Pure logic suggests that every trade has 2 sides. There a finite number of good players in the competition, and to get one you need to give a lot. If you give more than you get the net result is negative, and if you get more that you give it's positive.

So theoretically most clubs will break about even with their trading, unless they're idiots. Admittedly with teams in different phases in their rebuilding or open window phase they will value recruits and role players differently.

I'm of the view that St Kilda's list is evenly balanced between rebuilding and window open phase. We have a decent list, quite good depth, but desperately require a couple of quality midfielders. We had a crack at Merrett, and have been sniffing around LDU for a while. Not sure if we looked at Oliver or Bailey Smith, but then I'm not sure we really want them either. And if we did they'd be costly in terms of draft picks. Apparently Macrae is still a possibility, but in my opinion he's a Seb Ross replacement, and a bit short of the A grade mids we really need.

We have picks 7 & 8, and a realistic opportunity to pick up the A grade mids we need. So far in this trading period we haven't done anything stupid, we are neither better off or worse off as a result. My gut feel is that we'll pick up a couple of role players without giving away much on the final day of trading and go to the draft with a good hand, enabling us a realistic opportunity to get quality midfielders.

So I've got no complaints.

[B.M]

Yeah

Given his B&F result I’ve bumped him up - I had him as 6th
So to finish 3rd shows the coaches value on his season

Perhaps he is B+

Wilkie is A Grade

[Scollop]

Have a look at Melbourne FC.

They've got major problems but their recruiting team and list manager remain focused.

Melbourne are getting pick 9 from Essendon as well as having pick 5 for the upcoming National Draft..that's after getting Windsor and Tholstrup last year.

That means they're in a very strong position again if they can sort out their off field s***

As long St Kilda is focused on the National Draft and picking the right players, that is what will drive the future success of the football club

Interesting hearing people’s opinions, I think Melbourne are on track for the worst off season in recent AFL history. They’ve retained two players who are extreme damaged goods both entering their thirties and don’t want to be a club, they traded away their pick next year (which will almost certainly be in the top 4-5) for pick nine, they’ve lost Neal bullen who is a more than handy player for nothing. They have no key forwards, a terribly aged defence, close to the worse crop of players under 22 of any side and you think they are doing well?

Wtf are you reading? Look at the highlighted bits. I never said 'they are doing well'

This is a Saints thread. I wasn't going to list all their issues (including Oliver's off field behaviour which started the rot last year, Brayshaw retiring, Petracca wanting out, President resigning, Kosi wanting out and don't forget their former President claiming years ago that Goodwin has bad habits which could be affecting club culture) because they're all well known.

I meant ...despite their major problems they have a track record of good trading and very good recruiting.

That's what I'd like our team to do rather than getting distracted by senior players that might be available. Focus on picking the best young talent and recruit quality.

[B.M]

We just need to decide

Are we a finals side
Or
Are we a developing side

And the list manager needs to understand what is required

[Otiman]

If the best deal on offer is not to make a deal, then we should do nothing.