St Kilda supporters have raised concerns after failing to draft an out-and-out midfielder with their two top 10 selections in the AFL Draft.
The Saints used picks 8 and 10 to select half-back flanker Tobie Travaglia and versatile tall Alix Tauru respectively.
While fans weren't questioning the quality of the players selected, many were worried the club didn't draft a predominant midfielder in what was supposed to be a player pool full of engine room players.
Despite having the two premium selections, St Kilda missed out on the prized midfielders in the draft with the likes of Sam Lalor, Finn O'Sullivan, Jagga Smith, Sid Draper, Harvey Langford and Josh Smillie selected before their no.8 pick.
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However, there were several highly-rated midfielders still available at their selections, including Xavier Lindsay, Taj Hotton, Bo Allan and Murphy Reid.
The messaging from the Saints over the last 12 months has been that their midfield needs significant improvement.
In the recent player movement period, the club did add to its midfield stocks with the acquisition of two-time All Australian Jack Macrae and delisted Carlton player Jack Carroll.
However, St Kilda fans were worried by the club's decision to not target midfielders, especially with the prospect of drafting Next Generation Academy defenders Lennox Hoffman and Adrian Cole later in the draft.
What happened to the much hyped midfielders we needed from this draft that Ross kept talking about?
— PB001 (@tbapb5) November 20, 2024
Draft two defenders when Ray Charles can see we need midfielders.
— GPS (@chookaaaaaa) November 20, 2024
Amateur hour.
Saints to play an entire team of defenders in 2025, will play out the first AFL nil-all draw #AFLDraft @stkildafc
— Travis Wakeling (@TravisWakeling) November 20, 2024
In a message to soothe angst-ridden Saints supporters, AFL Draft expert Callum Twomey believes Travaglia will develop into a midfielder and Tauru could possibly play through the middle.
Twomey made the comments prior to the draft after accurately predicting St Kilda would select both Travaglia and Tauru in his Phantom Draft.
"There's been a lot of talk around midfielders for the Saints, but I think they're just outside the bracket of the premium midfielders in this year's group," Twomey said on Gettable.
"And I think Tobie Travaglia can be a midfielder and will be a midfielder in time. I think that's absolutely in his prospects. Worst case is he's a 200-game half-back or wingman and a pretty good player.
"And Tauru, yes he's not the midfield option yet, but he could be at some point. He is the 'could be anything' player in this year's draft.
"What number was Charlie Curnow back in his draft, around here? There's some similarities there around their prospects and power, in the air in particular."
