You couldn’t blame St Kilda’s list-building team if they threw their arms in the air out of frustration after the Suns were handed an extremely generous bailout package to help them out of a hole they dug during years of incompetence.
The Saints have got plenty wrong in the past decade, but at least they’re making a concerted effort to improve.
The Dan Hannebery deal was questionable in terms of length, but they had a plan and they got an experienced player without giving up anything of consequence in the trade. And by the time he finally got on the field, the former Swan was actually pretty good.
If the Saints can help him stay something close to healthy, the 28-year-old should still have plenty of good footy ahead for his second club.
Brad Hill is their next target, and the 26-year-old would be another welcome addition to the side – he should have made this year’s All Australian squad.
Pick 6 is the likely price, and it’s one that seems a tad steep. St Kilda don’t have their second-round pick this year, and trading their future first would be a bad idea. Trading down is a good idea – it’s worth asking the Giants for picks 12 and 18 in exchange, with 12 then a fair exchange for Hill.
Patrick Ryder will also head to Moorabbin – the price for the Port Adelaide big man should be negligible.
Both of those players should make St Kilda better.
Fremantle’s Brad Hill could become a Saint (Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Too much football discussion is focused on whether a team is on track to win a flag or whether they should rebuild. We’ve all heard the cliched question: ‘Will he be part of their next premiership?’.
And it’s all stupid.
There’s a good chance Max King won’t be a part of St Kilda’s next flag. Winning premierships is bloody hard – no-one knows that better than the Saints.
St Kilda are miles from contending from a flag. If their immediate goal is to build a 12-win team and play finals for the first time since 2011, that’s a pretty solid plan.
It’s easy to snicker at them for chasing Zak Jones, but, hell, if they think he’ll help them achieve that goal, why not.
Unfortunately they’ll lose Josh Bruce, who was sixth in the league for contested marks this season and St Kilda’s second-leading goal kicker with 36. He was a solid key forward and will be difficult to replace.
They’ll be hoping King can provide a facsimile of those numbers, but that’s extremely optimistic for a second-year player.
St Kilda won nine games this year. Maybe a new coach, a few veteran additions and some natural development is enough to land them three or four more wins.
Regardless of whether they succeed, St Kilda deserve to be commended for trying. They could cop-out and play the rebuild card. It would be the easier move.
And maybe it’s desperation rather than anything noble that’s driving them.
I doubt their players or their fans will care how they got there if the Saints are playing finals in 2020 – nine years is a hell of a long time to go without.
berrlins
Roar Pro
The saints have been down and have rebuilt a team that at best might challenge for 8th, when will they actually go for a flag tilt? Because it won't be with this team.
Slashandburn
Guest
@Gee How long are you going to keep blaming Suns/Giants for your club recruiting mistakes 20, 30 40 years?. You chase Carlisle and pay a first Rounder for him, let McEvoy go for a pittance , 2017 draft take Clark and Coffield at 7 & 8 when Naughton went at 9, Im sure your club would be happy to hand back all the funding from the Nationwide TV deals to go back to the VFL again and last what maybe 10 years in the comp
Slane
Guest
Because the Saints haven't been decidedly mediocre for the last hundred years...
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Well lets wait until we see the game plan from Ratten, from what I remember when in charge at Carlton he got them playing a hard and fast brand of footy through the middle of the ground get it into the forwards fast and it looked good, so if Ratten is looking at that sort of style again I guess getting the best users of the ball into the club by foot and hand would be the type of players he is looking for. Where do they fit if they get them all? Dan Butler Sam Gray Zak Jones Patrick Ryder Brad Hill And who is leaving? Jack Steven Josh Bruce And who will step up in 2020? Max King Paddy McCartin Jack Newnes Nick Coffield the best from 2019 B: Jarryn Geary, Jake Carlisle, Callum Wilkie HB: Dylan Roberton, Josh Battle, Hunter Clark C: Jack Billings, Seb Ross, Dan Hannebery HF: Jade Gresham, Josh Bruce, Jack Sinclair F: Nick Hind, Tim Membrey, Jack Lonie Foll: Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele, Jack Steven I/C: Luke Dunstan, Jimmy Webster, Shane Savage, Blake Acres
Gee
Roar Rookie
They need outside speed so Hill is a good pick up. St KIlda are hopeless at recruiting & drafting under normal circumstances, then add the dozens of sweetheart deals GWS & Gold Coast got and they are always going to struggle. Those two pretend clubs that have been a big drain on the talent pool.
Robinson
Guest
Hannenberry was petty good when he got on the park won.t to be 200 k a game (what a comment).Stkilda has and always has made wrong decisions from the top .Simon Letham etc they just pick up every one else.s dregs
Republican
Guest
......mediocrity is not exclusive to the Saints and is a consequence of growing the league for all the wrong reasons and creating plastic entities to the expedience of established clubs and heartlands.
Onside
Guest
Tom, I didn't explain myself all that well. My point is that the Gold Coast Suns players are largely unknown on the Gold Coast even if they genuinely prefered otherwise. Likewise I suspect most GWS players remain unknown in their community despite them having just played in a GF.
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
We are giving it a go which I appreciate, however we just cannot seem to get it right. Hopefully we can retain our players while picking up some veteran talent to make a push for finals. I wouldn't care if we slipped into 8th last season as long as I get to see some Finals footy
TomC
Roar Guru
This is the old chestnut that what footy players really want is anonymity. Despite having worked their backsides off to pursue a career in the public eye. Sure, there are a handful who want to escape the Melbourne bubble, but even though few will admit it openly, many of them want the attention and fame. And it certainly improves third party earning options and post career prospects.
Paul D
Roar Guru
i'd happily lay $500 right now that st kilda won't win a flag before 2030
Onside
Guest
Not sure about, "Victorian clubs are partially insulated from their failures in a way that Gold Coast aren’t." A Gold Coast player could walk down Cavill Avenue anytime of the day or night without being recognised , pestered for an autograph, or have anyone remark on the teams performance. A St Kilda player could not go anywhere in Melbourne in a private capacity and remain anonymous.
Raimond
Roar Guru
St. Kilda should have merged or relocated. Life as a beta Victorian club must be dreary.
TomC
Roar Guru
The issues aren't the same for St Kilda and Gold Coast, and the Suns are also making a concerted effort to improve. St Kilda still have players keen to come to Melbourne to play their footy, as do Carlton. Victorian clubs are partially insulated from their failures in a way that Gold Coast aren't. Possibly that helps to explain why St Kilda continue to make the same mistakes.