ON OCTOBER 11, St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said the Saints would not leave their future to chance and had identified a pressing need to restore balance to their list.
Free agency was not an option, with players over 26 off their radar, but the draft and trade systems definitely were.
And so, throughout the Gillette AFL Player Exchange Period, the Saints went about realigning their list by acquiring four players, losing two and improving their position in the NAB AFL Draft.
They achieved their main goal of obtaining three selections inside the top 20 – No.3, 18 and 19 - which they hung onto despite the Brisbane Lions initially demanding more than the No.25 pick they got for ruckman Billy Longer.
It was a planned aggressive strategy that was advertised during the season when the Saints were struggling and their backline again looked lean.
What it produced was hailed a success by list manager Ameet Bains on Friday as the Saints left Etihad Stadium, with Longer and defender Josh Bruce joining backman Luke Delaney and midfielder Shane Savage as new Saints.
"From finishing bottom three, we're cognisant of where the club's at and what we need to do to fast-track our transition," Bains said.
"It's been an exciting period for the club in the last three weeks now that everything has come to fruition.
"We've obviously had to be a bit aggressive and bold with a couple of our moves but things have paid off and we've brought in four players who fill needs and we're very excited about Billy and we've got three first round draft picks."
Nick Dal Santo and Ben McEvoy were the Saints' high-profile departures, with the former finally moving to North Melbourne as a free agent last Friday.
It was McEvoy's somewhat surprising trade to Hawthorn that opened the door for Longer, who wanted to leave the Lions and actually thought he was set to become a Hawk.
However, the Hawks went hard at McEvoy and he agreed to a trade for Savage and pick No.17 (at the time of trade) while on holiday in Cambodia.
The Saints would also acquire the Hawks' first-round compensation pick for Lance Franklin (No.19 at the time of trade) for 24 and 59 when free agency closed.
"That one came out of the blue a bit, Hawthorn were obviously quite interested in him and pursued him and the club aggressively to get a deal done," Bains said.
"I guess if we were being honest, [Longer] wasn't what we necessarily envisaged at the start of the period but once that was in train and there was an opportunity with Billy, it was something that we were keen to execute."
Billy Longer joins the Saints with a far better chance of putting games on the board. Picture: AFL Media
The Saints picked up selection No.25 as compensation for Dal Santo, which then along with pick No.41, bought them Longer and No.48.
Delaney was later traded from the Kangaroos for No.77, in an arrangement that was linked to the Dal Santo free agency move.
Bruce then joined the club for the No.48, which came with Longer from the Lions after the pick started at Essendon and spent time with Greater Western Sydney before it headed back there for the ex-Giant.
The Saints might not be done yet, either.
Veteran dual premiership ruckman Darren Jolly has done a medical with the club, which showed the 31-year-old to be in good condition.
Picking up the former Collingwood big man as a delisted free agent next week to support Longer, Tom Hickey and the untried Lewis Pierce remains an option.
"That's a discussion we still need to have but it's a possibility," Bains said.
"We've got three very young ruckmen so we need to make a decision about what other experience we can put around them."
Jolly's manager Paul Connors confirmed there could be movement with his client next week.
For Saints' supporters, they can view this player exchange period as a positive move in the transition of the list.
Thanks to all for the warm welcoming (and parting) tweets & messages. Very excited for what's to come.
— Billy Longer (@BillyLonger) October 25, 2013
They'll still need to be patient as the younger players develop, with Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna the types to support them after groundless speculation they would follow Dal Santo out of the club.
But they've made some significant moves that are certainly encouraging.
"This is part of a longer strategic rebuild for the club," Bains said.
"We hope that our fans get a bit more confidence as to what we're doing from the last couple of weeks and certainly getting in guys like Billy to the club that are keen to play for the club when they had other options."
