A VARIETY of things still need to fall into place if Jake Carlisle is going to become a Saint, according to Chief Operating Officer Ameet Bains.

Above all else, Carlisle must nominate his club of choice, something he is yet to do. Similarly, the Saints are committed to meeting with him again and doing more homework before settling on what comes next.

Speaking with ABC Grandstand radio on Saturday afternoon, Bains indicated the club is interested in acquiring the key position player, who played 85 games in six seasons at Essendon before requesting a trade a fortnight ago.

“We still have to see Jake, do some more due diligence at our end and he hasn’t even nominated a club yet,” Bains said.

“There is a lot of water to go under the bridge before that situation is resolved. There are other clubs that are quite interested in him as well. To get to that point, there is still a lot of time.

“We have caught up with Jake on one occasion and will look to meet with him again when he returns from overseas.”

Bains conceded obtaining a young key defender in the Carlisle mould was desirable, but not to the extent of giving up everything to get one. 

“It’s an area of need for us,” he said.

“Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster are still playing good footy but are in the twilight of their careers. Hugh Goddard debuted this year and Luke Delaney is still only 25.

“Any decision we make through this trade period, won’t compromise that longer term strategy.”

Senior coach Alan Richardson worked closely with Carlisle in 2010 as an assistant at the Bombers. 

Bains said it was too early to determine whether the number five draft pick would be on the table in the Trade period, which begins on Monday October 12 at 10am and finishes on Thursday October 22 at 2pm.

He also effectively ruled out making a play for Gold Coast Sun Harley Bennell and Brisbane Lion James Aish.

“James Aish is from that same Draft [as Jack Billings, Luke Dunstan, Blake Acres and Nathan Freeman],” he said.

“He is a very talented player. [But] from where we sit and what we need to work through with Nathan [Freeman], which will be our focus moving forward.”