In 2013, Jack Billings was one of the classiest players in his draft pool, capable of turning games with his precise left-foot and game nous. But there was a question mark regarding his ability to play in the midfield, until a game late in the year extinguished that thought.

Across his final underage season, Billings split his time between Scotch College, Vic Metro and the Oakleigh Chargers, where clubs monitored his every move, hoping to grab him on draft night in late November.

St Kilda was one of those clubs who followed Billings’ progress closely in 2013, with Chief Operating Officer, Ameet Bains, spending plenty of time observing the highly touted prospect.

And while there was little doubt he was a class above in the front third of the ground, it wasn’t until a performance at Warrawee Park in Oakleigh where the soon-to-be No. 3 pick would put the icing on the cake.

“I remember in Jack’s top-age year, one of the things being questioned was his ability to play in the midfield. We all knew how classy he was across half-forward, but there was a question mark on his midfield play,” Bains told saints.com.au on ahead of the National Draft on Friday night.

“In the last TAC Cup game of the year he went into the midfield and had 16 possessions in just over a quarter playing against Matt Crouch from Adelaide, who also played well that day.

“It was that performance that gave us the extra bit of confidence that he had the capacity and nous to play midfield. It was great leaving the ground that day with that knowledge.”

With St Kilda set for a single-digit pick from a long way out from the draft, the Saints recruiting department spent plenty of time doing their due diligence, before banking their highest pick since Brendon Goddard on Billings.

And while coaches, regional managers, parents and friends all provide invaluable information, the Head of Sport at Scotch College, Stuart Powell, produced a small insight into Billings’ desire to make it.

“Given our pick that year, no different to when we took Paddy a year later, we did a significant amount of cross referencing on him,” Bains said.

“One thing that impressed us was his school sports master told us that when he was struggling a bit in Year 10, he went and did some boxing training on his own to improve his aggressiveness and to get some extra work under his belt.

“And it worked for him at the time, and it was just a little insight into Jack’s desire to get the most out of himself. It’s something that he has gone back to during his time at the Saints when he feels he needs a bit.”