TRIPLE premiership Lion Jonathan Brown believes St Kilda must be prepared to give up its best bargaining chips to acquire Josh Kelly, even if that means surrendering its two first-round selections to strike a deal with the GWS Giants.
The Saints currently have two top-10 selections in this year’s national draft, holding Pick 8 — their first natural selection — as well as Pick 7 — Hawthorn’s first selection that was acquired during last year’s trade period.
St Kilda has been consistently linked to the out-of-contract Kelly, who has developed into one of the prime midfielders in the competition this season. He looms as a potential gap-filler for a Saints on-ball brigade crying out for a superstar.
According to the Official AFL Player Ratings via Champion Data, the Saints only have one player inside top 50 over the past two seasons, with Jack Steven coming in at No. 21 — and that’s after dipping a few spots this season.
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Asked on Fox Footy’s On The Couch whether the Saints should give up their two first-rounders for Kelly, Brown said: “They do as far as I’m concerned.”
Brown added that the Saints desperately need a star midfielder and should be prepared to make a bold deal, just like Collingwood did for Adam Treloar nearly two years ago.
“Someone made a point today, is there a St Kilda player in the top 30 players in the league? It’s a fair point,” Brown said.
“Jack Steven hasn’t set the world on fire, Seb Ross has been pretty good … but the very top-end elite players — are they there?
“I think if it’s Pick 7 and (8), I’m doing that for Josh Kelly. I think that’s pretty good form.
GWS Giants’ Josh Kelly is one of the hottest midfielders in the competition. Picture: Michael KleinSource:News Corp Australia
“If Collingwood did it for (Adam) Treloar, I think that’s reasonable market value.”
However Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd earlier in the night disagreed with the potential trade.
While Lloyd admitted the Saints are desperately in need of some “class”, but said giving up two first-round selections — especially after trading into the first round last year — was a big risk.
“It’s a big call. You’ve probably got to assess the draft … it’s Picks 7 and 8 at this stage, but it’s a lot to give up for one player,” Lloyd told 3AW’s Sportsday.
“I’d still take Picks 7 and 8 over Josh Kelly.”
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Originally published as ‘I’d do it’: Bold trade Saints must execute
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