St Kilda list manager James Gallagher says the Saints are still searching for support in the ruck, after a move for North Melbourne tall Tristan Xerri fell through.
Having parted with a future second-round selection for Callum Coleman-Jones, the Roos were reported to have requested the Saints’ pick in the same round in exchange for Xerri.
St Kilda walked away from negotiations on deadline day, unprepared to meet the demands.
“We completely understand North Melbourne’s position,” Gallagher told SEN’s The Captain’s Run.
“Tristan is contracted, which makes these sort of discussions with other clubs much more difficult.
“We were pretty keen to bring him in. He’s a good young lad, he’s got some talent and could really support Paddy (Ryder) and Rowan (Marshall).
“It didn’t happen this time around, but he’s got a good attitude. He’ll go back to North and I’m sure he’ll have a good year.”
Xerri will have to scrap for minutes next season, with a handful of players hoping to help veteran Roo Todd Goldstein.
Coleman-Jones and mid-season draftee Jacob Edwards can both play in a forward-ruck role, while promising forward Charlie Comben can pinch hit.
“We went into it on the understanding that North Melbourne were okay for him to consider other options,” Gallagher related.
“What became apparent is that we had a bit of a different impression of how willing they were to allow him to go to another club, to get more opportunity.
“Ultimately, by the end of the week, the difference in what we were prepared to give up and what they demanded in a trade was just too far apart.
“We liked the lad and liked the player, but we can’t compromise what we’re doing longer-term and even on draft night this year by handing over a pick we see as pretty valuable.”
While Gallagher had been observing the 22-year-old for some time, it was only after Callum Coleman-Jones requested a trade to North Melbourne that a move for Xerri materialised.
“The understanding was there was a conversation there that Tristan is now a fair way down the pecking order, and if he could find somewhere else, then all parties were open to it.
“That’s when we got involved.”
Gallagher is optimistic the Saints’ first choice ruck pairing will be back to the form and fitness that propelled them into the second week of the finals in 2020.
Former Essendon and Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder will play into a third season at Moorabbin, having missed the final four games of this campaign with an achilles complaint.
“We’re pretty realistic with Paddy,” Gallagher explained.
“It wasn’t a bad injury but given where our season had got to, we didn’t want to push him to get back.
“He only played 12 games for the year, but he did miss five or six when he needed to get back to Western Australia (for personal reasons) earlier in the year.
“He actually hasn’t missed many games with us in the last two years with injury, but we’re very aware he’s a 33-year-old ruckman who has had a bit of trouble with his achilles in the past.
“We need to make sure we don’t get left high and dry if he needs to have a few weeks out, or he misses a few games with injuries next year.”
The Saints expect Ryder’s ruck partner Rowan Marshall will be fit to play a full season, having returned from surgery to play eight of the final nine games.
“He was really unlucky this year Ro. He managed to get out there 12 or 13 times but even a few of those were under duress,” Gallagher lamented.
“He carried quite a significant plantar fascia injury through the pre-season, and we just couldn’t get it right.
“He’s had a bit of a breather, got his foot 100 per cent right and he’s going to attack the pre-season.
“He’s going to be set for a really, really big season. He’s a very driven young man, Rowan.
“(But) we need to make sure we’ve got another option there, as we were this year, we’re left without either of our two first choice ruckmen.”
Gallagher stopped short of confirming back-up ruckman Paul Hunter would be offered another contract, after suiting up seven times this season.
“It’s not as simple as that, but we have a position on our list that we need a solution for,” he detailed.
Hunter is one of four Saints without a contract for next season, with Jack Lonie, Dean Kent and Darragh Joyce all with him in limbo.
“It’s a tough time of the year,” Gallagher acknowledged.
“We try and stay in really regular communication with the boys, because they’re terrific lads and they deserve better.
“All footballers want is just honesty and clarity… we’ll be able to give them clear direction on what next year holds for them in the next 36 to 72 hours.
“They’re really good lads … there’ll be a few that will stay, but we’ll have to make a call on one or two of them as well.”
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