Despite being linked to St Kilda in the weeks leading into last Friday night’s NAB AFL Draft, Hunter Clark had no idea he would land at the club closest to his home.

While many draftees had to pack their bags and relocate their lives over the weekend, Clark gets to remain at home in Mt Martha on the Mornington Peninsula.

The Dandenong Stingrays midfielder was the Saints’ first of four picks last Friday night, scooped up a pick ahead of new teammate Nick Coffield at No. 7, before the club added Oscar Clavarino at No. 35 and Ben Paton at No. 46.

“I had a little bit of a hope that it would be St Kilda, but you hear your name linked to quite a few clubs,” Clark told reporters at a press conference at RSEA Park.

“Up until my name was called out I didn’t really have any idea where I was going, so as soon as my name was read out I was stoked."

When Clark arrived at Linen House Centre on Monday morning, the first person he met was rebounding defender Dylan Roberton, who is another product of the Stingrays’ football factory – 11 current Saints were recruited from that program.

“I was waiting outside and Dyl Roberton walked past and he took me into the club and into the rooms,” Clark said.

“He’s a pretty special player to see for the first time.”

In his first press conference as an AFL footballer, Clark admitted hearing praise from St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson over the weekend had provided him with confidence ahead of his first day at the club.

“It gives you a big confidence boost hearing it from the head coach of the club saying those types of things,” he said.

“You don’t let it get to your head but coming into the club it does give you some confidence in yourself, so it’s definitely helpful.”