The premiership ruckman is not training with the Saints but has been through a medical examination at the club.
Choco firming for St Kilda job as Richardson says no
Jolly is a delisted free agent after being cut by Collingwood at the end of the home and away season.
He hopes to continue his career at a fourth club and it is understood St Kilda remains interested in recruiting the 31-year-old.
The Saints would be comfortable going to the 2013 NAB AFL Draft without a senior coach, but any decision to recruit a mature-age player would require input from the new boss.
Jolly won't find a new club before the first delisted free agent deadline on Wednesday, but there will be other opportunities for him to reach St Kilda in the next 12 days.
The delisted free agency window re-opens between November 14-18, and again from November 22-25 once the 2013 NAB AFL Draft has been held on the Gold Coast.
The Saints developed an interest in recruiting Jolly after they traded No.1 ruckman Ben McEvoy to Hawthorn and snared 20-year-old big man Billy Longer from the Brisbane Lions.
"We've got three very young ruckmen so we need to make a decision about what other experience we can put around them," list manager Ameet Bains said after the Gillette AFL Trade Period.
Jolly, who played in premierships with the Sydney Swans in 2005 and the Magpies in 2010, appeared a strong chance to join the Saints in late October immediately following the Trade Period.
However, the club's instability, which resulted in Scott Watters' sacking on November 1, has delayed any move.
Richmond development coach Mark Williams remains the lead candidate to fill the role, while assistant coaches Adam Kinsley and Simon McPhee have been interviewed.
The club hopes to appoint a new coach before the senior players return for pre-season training on November 18.
Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
