ST KILDA has conceded it has some work to do before the end of the month to alleviate its salary cap squeeze after a Trade Week that did little to relieve the pressure.

The only moves the Saints made throughout the exchange period were the reluctant trade of untried Irishman Tommy Walsh to the Sydney Swans, swinging young forward Tom Lynch to Adelaide and picking up young pair Terry Milera and Ahmed Saad.

They also picked up NAB AFL Draft selections 25, 35, 37 and 68.

Despite rumours throughout the week a host of senior players - including Jason Gram - were attracting offers, plus a confirmed late enquiry about Farren Ray, the Saints didn't trade out any players other than 23-year-old Walsh and six-gamer Lynch. 

The Saints' head of football Chris Pelchen said after the 2pm deadline the club would work on "remodelling our cap" instead of enforcing pay cuts before the first list lodgement was due on October 31.

"We'll continue to rebuild that model. We've got until the end of the month to do that and there's no doubt it has been under some pressure," he said.

"We'll work through it in a professional way and we're confident all players will still be with us.

"I don't want to speculate on salary cuts; let's say we're remodelling our cap and we'll do it in a positive way."

The Saints have a raft of players, including Ray, Zac Dawson, Brett Peake and Sean Dempster, who remain out of contract with 14 days remaining until the first list lodgement.

New coach Scott Watters said they acknowledged they had a tough few weeks ahead of them as they attempted to rectify the squeeze.

"I think every club has got to make sure they have a balanced approach to where their list is at and we're no different to that," he said.

"There are challenges, we admit that and we'll manage those challenges."

He also said the Saints left the trade period comfortable with what they did - and didn't - act on.

"Our intent all the way through, and Chris has made that comment a number of times, was that our core list was always going to stay solid," he said.

"There's no surprise in what's transpired today so we think we've got a strong group, we've got a great group of kids coming through as well, so there's good balance with what we've got there."

Watters met with Walsh on Monday morning, just a day after the Saints announced the former Collingwood assistant as Ross Lyon's replacement, and told him he was a required player.

The Saints offered him a long-term contract offer, elevation to the senior list and a reassurance of his place at the club.

But it wasn't enough to keep the promising key position prospect, who kicked six goals against Collingwood while playing in the VFL in August this year.

"We were pretty committed and presented what we thought was a pretty compelling opportunity for him to stay," Watters said.

"We were keen on him playing a significant part next year but ultimately we have to respect his decision."

The Saints will now enter the draft next month with more draft picks inside the four rounds than they entered Trade Week with, which leaves them believing they are strongly placed.

Watters said speed and players with elite kicking ability were on the wish list, but they would take the next month to analyse exactly what they wanted from the country's best crop of kids.

"We're intending to have six, and that's one of the most positive things to come out of Trade Week," Pelchen added.

"We've entered the week with three picks inside 68 and we've ended the week with six picks inside 68 and two exciting young kids on the list.

"I think overall it's been a very, very good week for us."