Why are the Saints so attractive?

[Lefty 57]

No not their looks. Is it the $$$? Finals prospects? That amazing fun culture? Why are players throwing themselves at the Saints?

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 3,483]

I’m not one to bag them.

They’ve completely owned us since the mid 2000’s.

[Watts the matter 839]

$$$

[AaronDaveyChipsAndGravey 205]

Last roll of the dice for them to show some improvement and push for finals. Have been rubbish for the better part of the last 8 or so years. Has got to be $$$

[Patches O’houlihan 11,409]

They're paying overs to get guys in at the moment, 900k for Brad Hill is just one example of the insanity. 

[Pipefitter 1,235]

They have 0 high paid stars. They’d have an open cheque book.

[deeology 146]

Can’t be that sexy when their captain wants out.

[AaronDaveyChipsAndGravey 205]

2 minutes ago, Pipefitter said:

They have 0 high paid stars. They’d have an open cheque book.

Doubtful. Every club has to pay 95% of max cap space. Players they’re offloading in Newnes and Acres would be on silly amounts of dollars methinks

[DeeSpencer 11,409]

Brad Hill - cash (and the draft picks to make the trade work)
Paddy Ryder - came down to them on Essendon, better path to playing regular games at St Kilda, not a big pick up
Zak Jones - interesting one, not sure too many clubs were keen, I'd imagine it's midfield playing time that's the drawcard
Howard - probably their biggest get in terms of beating away competition, imagine they'll have to trade a player as well as Bruce (Acres?) to get him. I think he's a really smart pick up.

They've got Gubby Allen for the old school know how plus hired James Gallagher who sounds like a very smart pick up. Add in a good coach keen to get experienced talent in and you'll land some names. 

[Sir Why You Little 18,223]

Ratten as Coach is a huge plus

He is well respected and loved within the AFL

[John Demonic 1,656]

Stupid sexy Sainters!

[Fifty-5 7,747]

To [censored] off Richo

[Demons11 2,324]

Are they really that attractive? I’m sure they have paid overs for all but besides Hill the rest are very average players 

[Clintosaurus 1,645]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. That is all.

[Rocknroll 372]

Kim duthie

[Nascent 701]

Maybe they're all just drunk and its the end of the night?

[Cam Schwab's Whiteboard 178]

[Thehardtackler 466]

Totally about Ratten. Would love him as our coach. One of the 3 most charismatic coaches in the league. IMO.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,205]

It's all been said, but they have a bloody good coach in The Rat and they don't have any stars eating up cap space so there is plenty of money to throw at players to get them across.  I don't know that they have what it takes to develop into a premiership side, but Ratten has a record of getting a team to play well above itself and they should play finals. 

[daisycutter 17,339]

must be their linton st training hq

[Little Goffy 5,003]

It just seems to be how the Saints do business.

They've already got Sam Rowe, Nathan Brown, Shane Savage, Dan Hannebery, Dylan Roberton, Billy Longer, Jake Carlisle, Dean Kent and I'm sure a few others who aren't coming to mind.

St Kilda are in the salary-cap handy position of not having any, any at all, seriously top-line players. Respectable, absolutely, but we're talking Seb Ross, Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele, Tim Membrey.

And while you do have to pay 95%+ of cap each year, that is easily fudged by front-loading contracts in, say, 2017-18 so that the gap opens up in 2019 and onwards.

See also the Neeld era 'scattergun' - we got a lot of players in then, many of them every bit as respected as the crop St Kilda are brining in.

I think it is an illusion and St Kilda are burning their future for a bit of respectability now.  They are already not a very young side and abandoning this year's draft is a big risk for the sake of players all

I'm surprised Ratten is letting it happen but I guess the club really sees itself as need to show it is turning a corner. A couple more years of wafting between bog ordinary or just kind of pointlessly below average and people will start overlooking the Saints 2000s the same way people overlook the Demons 87-06 copmarative relevance.

[R.I.P. Troy 147]

[Brenno 77]

2 hours ago, Demons11 said:

Are they really that attractive? I’m sure they have paid overs for all but besides Hill the rest are very average players 

Disagree, only Ryder wouldn't be in our best 22. 

[demonzz 70]

All the players love hanging out at Houlihan's cafe in Hampton street.

[TeamPlayedFine39 5,545]

Same reason Poet Adelaide were so attractive two years ago... didn’t make any difference on-field.