ST KILDA coach Alan Richardson insists his club is not licking its lips at the greatly improved draft position Hawthorn's fall from grace could present the Saints with this season.

Sitting on the bottom of ladder and winless, the Hawks traded their 2017 first-round pick to the Saints in last year's trade period to help to them cut a deal with Gold Coast for Jaeger O'Meara.

The deal also saw the Saints give up picks No.10 and 68 in return for Hawthorn's picks 23 and 36 in last year's draft.

The transaction is guaranteed to give St Kilda at least a win of 848 points under the draft's points value index.

While currently being in the envious position of holding the No.1 pick in this year's NAB AFL Draft, Richardson said he expected Hawthorn would soon rise from their worst start to a season since 1970.

"It's completely out of our control. We just worry about what we can do," Richardson said on Friday.

"Deals are deals, they got the players they were after, we were able to get the selection we were after, but the reality is we can just focus on us.

"We expect such a proud footy club to bounce back and be stronger."

It was reported this week that the Saints were close to extending the careers of decorated veterans Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna, but Richardson said it was "a little bit early" to be discussing whether the duo would play on next season.

Riewoldt and Montagna are both still key contributors for the Saints, despite turning 35 and 34 respectively at the end of the season.

"It's only early in the year. There's a fair bit work to go before we can really sit down and have those conversations," Richardson said.

"At the right time, Ameet Bains, Tony Elshaug and the (rest of the) list management team will sit down with the respective managers.

"But all I can talk about is their footy and the two boys are playing good footy."