St Kilda’s decision to trade their 2016 first round pick to Hawthorn has improved the club's overall draft position across the next two years, says Saints Chief Operating Officer Ameet Bains.

After securing Greater Western Sydney midfielder Jack Steele on Friday, the Saints were also involved in a pick swap with the Hawks later in the day, in a deal that saw St Kilda acquire a future first round pick and two second round picks – currently No. 23 and No. 36 – in exchange for pick No. 10 and No. 68.

“Essentially, we looked at where our list is at and we’re not under any illusions that we’ve still got some work to do. Being in an important position in the draft in this year and next year are both important to us,” Bains told SEN on Monday morning.

“By doing this trade we essentially could improve our position overall, over that two-year period. So essentially, we do trade out pick 10 this year, which is our first-round pick, but do get back in Hawthorn’s first-round pick from next year.

“Now where that will land is uncertain depending on where the Hawks finish, but what it did allow us to do is also get back into the second-round this year which we had a void in. To now hold two second-round picks in this year’s draft was the net gain of that transaction.”

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Bains indicated that the club would be open to trading back into the first round of this year’s draft if the opportunity presents itself before the trade window closes at 2pm on Thursday.

“We’re still quite keen to get back into the first round in this year’s draft and we feel with the currency we’ve got over the next couple of years that gives us the opportunity if someone else is willing to be on the other side of it,” Bains said.

While the Steele deal was finalised on Friday, Bains is still confident that out-of-contract Western Bulldogs midfielder Koby Stevens will join the club in the coming days.

“We’re very confident that that will get done. We’ve had very productive conversations with the Bulldogs,” he said.

“They’ve obviously got a few things to work through from their end now. What we’ve said is we’ll catch up over the next couple of days, see where each other’s picks lie and try and talk through a trade.”

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