ST KILDA'S decision not to take West Coast premiership player Ben Cousins has given former Demon Nathan Carroll a chance of playing AFL football next year.

Chief executive Archie Fraser told Thursday's Herald Sun that the club would not have recruited both Carroll and Cousins.

But with the Saints not taking part in the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft on December 16, Carroll will need to be selected with a late pick in Saturday's NAB AFL Draft.

The 28-year-old has been training with the Saints and could give them some much needed height in defence, with tireless veteran Max Hudghton and Matt Maguire – recovering from a horror run of injuries – no certainties to play every game.

"Nathan Carroll is just going to have to stack up on how he trains and how he fits in with the group," Fraser said.

"If you pick up somebody like a Carroll, you pick him up for specific cover.

"You don't have to be Einstein to say we want him to give us a bit of cover down back.

"But there is still a range of options to look at.

"[Not selecting Cousins] certainly doesn't mean that Nathan is automatically coming. They are two different players for two different positions.

"I think everybody was keen to have a look at Carroll at training.

"It will be an individual decision on Saturday as far as who is in the draft. If we take him, it will have to be on Saturday."

St Kilda powerbrokers met on Tuesday to discuss whether the club should draft Cousins, but decided against it.