St Kilda could look to fill Brad Crouch's list spot with star SANFL ruckman Harry Boyd.
The 26-year-old was seen training with the Saints at Moorabbin's RSEA Park on Wednesday morning and frames as favourite to be an SSP signing in the future.
Links with the Saints to Boyd, who shared the 2024 Magarey Medal for SANFL best player, first emerged earlier this month.
Despite selecting teenage big man Alex Dodson in the AFL Draft, St Kilda is light on for rucks with Rowan Marshall to be supported by untried duo Max Heath and Isaac Keeler.
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The 198cm Boyd has been a dominant force for Norwood in the SANFL, averaging 41 hitouts, 21 disposals and 10 clearances a match across the 2024 season as he shared the Magarey Medal with former Essendon utility Will Snelling.
However, it looked as if Boyd would miss out on a spot at St Kilda after the drafts saw the club with a full playing list.
Crouch's retirement paves the way for Boyd to get his chance in the AFL, after missing out being drafted through the first eight years of his career.
Boyd is a Murray Bushrangers product, who played two seasons of VFL for Werribee before returning to the Goulburn Valley Football League in 2019.
He signed for SANFL club Norwood during the COVID-19 pandemic and has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years, winning the medal for best on ground in the 2022 SANFL grand final.
Boyd also won his second consecutive best and fairest award for Norwood at the conclusion of the recent season.
