St Kilda’s General Manager of Football Simon Lethlean has discussed this week’s decision to part ways with four young Saints.

“None of the decisions are pleasant at this time of year, because you’ve got to make changes to your list,” he said on the Dare Drink it Through Podcast.

Lethlean said clubs are hesitant to discuss the reasoning behind list management decisions as it can be detrimental to those players finding new AFL homes.

“I guess firstly and respectfully, there’s been some hard decisions made on Nathan Wright, who’s been a solid contributor here for a number of years,” he said.

“Likewise, Hugh Goddard, who started off quickly in his career … had some injuries that then made him work pretty hard and he found his way back this year, to his credit, and it was a really solid VFL season again from Hugh.

“Koby Stevens is leaving through different circumstances, and Ray Connellan’s heading home to Ireland, which was as hard a conversation as it was with Nathan (Freeman), about a guy who’s moved here and now has to move home if he doesn’t get another chance – that’s to be determined – so some pretty hard conversations.

READ: Saints' initial list changes

Lethlean admitted it was particularly difficult to break the news to Freeman.

“Nathan was a hard one,” he said.

“He probably has more notoriety in this decision-making than other players.

“Nathan is as resilient, as nice and as respectful a young person as I’ve met in the sport, and I’ve met a fair few.

“He’s had to work for five years to get what he should’ve had earlier in his career, which was senior footy, because he’s a talent, a top 10 draft pick, and he’s had some really well-publicised battles."

The head of football said Freeman’s two senior games in 2018 were earned on the back of his form for Sandringham.

“He got his opportunity in senior footy because he worked hard enough for it … he played a couple of games there where he showed he was performing at the level, but in the end, we had to make an assessment of where we go next year with our whole list.

“We have a few more of Nathan’s type that were ahead of him in that midfield/wing capacity, and those that are staying were assessed that they’ll have a bigger impact on our performance next year than Nathan.

“We’ve had great visibility of him across three years on the training track, on his medical conditioning, and on his VFL form, which will always be good enough at VFL level.

“I think in Nathan’s own words, now that he’s got some continuity, he’s still searching to regain some of the weapons that really do make him a senior footballer. I don’t think he’s got all those weapons necessarily where he wants them and where they were, and that’s all part of the decision-making process.

“You wouldn’t see a person that’s more deserving of another chance, and I hope he gets one … and he’ll have no better references than those that have worked with him here for three years.”

In this week’s episode…

Host Clair White is once again joined by St Kilda General Manager of Football Simon Lethlean to discuss the coaching changes at the club, a post-mortem on exit interviews, the brutal reality of delistings and Nathan Freeman, the uncertain futures of out-of-contract Saints, incoming President Andrew Bassat, the necessity of change, and new List Manager James Gallagher’s first week on the job.

Episode Guide

0:57 – Coaching changes – Brett Ratten

2:33 – Brendon Lade

3:19 – Adam Kingsley

4:40 – Rohan Welsh, Lindsay Gilbee & Simon McPhee

5:35 – Exit Interviews

6:21 – Nathan Freeman

10:25 – Saints out of contract

11:58 – Andrew Bassat

14:00 – Managing change

15:20 – James Gallagher