St Kilda young gun Jack Billings is well aware of the expectations associated with being a high draft pick, given he was taken at the top end of a draft amid GWS star Josh Kelly and Western Bulldogs premiership heroes Tom Boyd and Marcus Bontempelli.

Billings, who produced a stunning breakout season in 2017 to emerge as one of the more damaging half-forwards in the game, is well placed to help St Kilda’s two newest top 10 picks, Hunter Clark (No. 7) and Nick Coffield (No. 8), cope with the pressure of being a high draft pick.

“I think first and foremost, you’ve just got to work as hard as you can when you get to the club,” Billings told the Inside St Kilda Podcast this week.

“I think the thing that helped me with the extra expectations and outside noise was when I arrived at the Saints I was treated just as equally as rookie picks, so that made it a bit easier and allowed me to go about my business. I’m sure the same will happen for Hunter and Nick.

“I think the other thing is to just enjoy themselves and not put too much pressure on themselves, it’s easier said than done, but just to enjoy it and learn as much as much as they can.

“It’s a positive that they were obviously taken reasonably high, so they can obviously play the game and should have a bit of belief and confidence.”

After moving out of home and into a new place over the weekend, Billings has already acquired a new housemate in the form of new St Kilda midfielder-defender Ben Paton, who the club selected with their fourth and final pick in last Friday night’s NAB AFL Draft.

“Benny has been really good. He came in on Monday and I’d only just moved in over the weekend, so it’s been all pretty new for me," Billings said.

“He’s a great kid and he looks pretty keen to learn as much as he can. Hopefully I can show him the ropes a bit and look after him in the first few weeks.

“If he’s got any questions or things that he wants to know he can lean on me and ask me, so hopefully I can help settle him in.”

Following an injury-interrupted start to his time at Linen House Centre, Billings enjoyed a clean run at it this year and thrived, playing every game to finish fifth in the Trevor Barker Award.

The 22-year-old, who inked a two-year contract extension in August, is determined to carry that momentum through the entire summer to propel him onto bigger and better things in 2018.

“I was able to get a bit of continuity with my body so I was able to stay out there which was really pleasing for me,” he said.

“I was able to really build on my game because I was out there every single week.

“I had a full off-season so I was able to work on my strength and my running – I’m really excited about this summer and heading into next season, hopefully I can improve and take that big step.”