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Saints enjoy big AFL draft

27th November, 2014
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Paddy McCartin and Hugh Goddard could prove St Kilda’s version of the boom 2004 draft that helped set up Hawthorn for AFL domination.

After weeks of speculation, the Saints used the No.1 pick at Thursday night’s draft on the Gold Coast to recruit McCartin.

They hope he will be the successor to captain and all-time great Nick Riewoldt as their main key forward.

The Saints used their next selection at 21 to recruit Goddard, another key position player and the cousin of former St Kilda star Brendon.

AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan compared McCartin and Goddard to when Hawthorn used pick No.2 in the 2004 draft to recruit Jarryd Roughead and then called out Lance Franklin at No.5.

“The Saints might just have their bookends,” said Sheehan of the former Geelong Falcons TAC Cup teammates McCartin and Goddard.

Roughead and Franklin became one of the league’s most formidable key forward double acts.

Two months ago Roughead became a three-time Hawthorn premiership player, while the lure of a massive free agency deal sent Franklin to Sydney this season after two flags with the Hawks.

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Saints coach Alan Richardson said they had high hopes for McCartin, but know he will need time.

“We didn’t call out the name to win the Rising Star next year,” Richardson said.

“Long term, we think he’s going to be the man.

“There will be a fair bit said about the fact he’s a forward and we need him – but it’s as simple as we rated him as the best player.”

The Saints have been impressive with their No.1 picks – Riewoldt was the first name called in 2000 and Brendon Goddard joined them two years later.

Their key forward succession plan swung into action within seconds of McCartin walking off stage once his name was called at the draft.

He immediately was talking to Riewoldt on the phone.

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“It was unbelievable – I walked out and they passed me a phone and I saw his face there,: McCartin said.

“He’s one of the best forwards the game’s ever seen so I’ll go in there, be a bit of a pest, annoy him and learn as much as possible.”

It completes a massive week for the Saints, who finished last this season.

On Monday, Riewoldt announced he would keep playing for at least two more seasons.

But the Saints’ problems on and off the field were also highlighted when they revealed a $2.4m loss for the year.

The Saints chose McCartin ahead of midfielder Christian Petracca, who then went to Melbourne at pick No.2.

The Demons used the third selection on Petracca’s friend Angus Brayshaw, another onballer.

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There were few major surprises in the first round, although Nakia Cockatoo was a bolter.

The midfielder went to Geelong at No.10 – their first top-10 draft pick since current captain Joel Selwood in 2006.

Cockatoo was injured this year and his only game was the AFL grand final curtain raiser – where he was best afield.

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