ST KILDA enters the 2012 NAB AFL Draft in a strong position to secure some of the best available talent in the land, when the draft is held on the Gold Coast on November 22.

After a busy trade and free agency period, the Saints’ draft is heavily based in the second round with its first four picks all falling in the 25-44 range.

The introduction of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney has changed the landscape of the draft in recent years and both those teams once again feature prominently in the early rounds.

But if history is any guide, the best players don’t always come from the first round and the Saints have the chance to bring in some key long-term players.

An analysis of previous drafts shows that there is plenty of talent available at the picks the Saints have. We have looked at the history of the picks recruiting manager Tony Elshaug has when he takes to the microphone in three weeks’ time.

Pick 25:
The Saints are no stranger to this pick having previously taken Clinton Shaw (1993), Steven Sziller (1994) and more recently Sebastian Ross (2011) with pick 25.

Plenty of accomplished players have arrived at the AFL via pick 25.

Port Adelaide took Nick Stevens in 1997 and he became a crucial part of the Power’s midfield over 127 games before he crossed to Carlton where he played another 104 matches.

Daniel Chick came to Hawthorn in 1995 and went on to be a key part of the Hawthorn outfit for seven years. Chick won a club best and fairest in 2000 and won the club’s goal kicking in his final season in 2002.

Chick moved home to his native Western Australia and cemented himself in West Coast’s team. He played a vital role in the club’s 2006 premiership team before his career came to an end the following year after 252 games.

Fitzroy drafted John Barker in 1992 and he went on to be a solid tall forward option for Fitzroy, the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn. In 2008, the Brisbane Lions selected Jack Redden who has since ensconced himself in the Lions midfield.

Pick 26:
This selection has been a success ever since the very first draft in 1986 when Hawthorn took Tasmanian rover Darrin Pritchard. He quickly worked his way into the all-powerful Hawthorn team, playing in a Grand Final in his first season.

He was part of the premiership winning teams of 1988, 1989 and 1991, playing state of origin football for Victoria and captaining his native Tasmania.

Another multiple premiership player emerged years later when Tim Notting arrived at the Lions. The talented half-forward played in the 2001 and 2002 premierships in a 208-game career.

Brodie Holland came to Fremantle with pick 26 in 1997 before leaving after three years to pursue a career with Collingwood. Former Demon and now Cat Jared Rivers won the AFL’s Rising Star award just two years after Melbourne took him with the selection in 2002.

But the best pick 26 may eventually be one of the more recent, with West Coast forward Jack Darling quickly emerging as one of the young stars of the AFL. Darling has kicked 77 goals from his 47 games and is already seen as one of the best of the 2010 crop.

Pick 41:
Lions forward Todd Banfield was selected with pick 41 in 2008 and has since played 53 games. ever since. While plenty of quality players have been taken with picks after the 40s, there has been a dearth of successful players go at pick 41.

Andrew Krakouer began his career at Richmond after going at pick 41, while Zac Dawson started at Hawthorn after he was taken at pick 41. Dawson made his way to the Saints for three years before joining Fremantle at the end of last year.

Pick 44:
One of the most emerging young midfielders in the AFL is a 44th selection going back just four years. Rory Sloane came through to Adelaide via the Eastern Rangers with pick 44 and has gone from strength to strength in the years since, to the point that he is now a key part of a midfield that made last year’s preliminary final.

Heath Scotland began his career 14 years ago when he was drafted by Collingwood with pick 44, while Geelong’s Josh Hunt is a dual premiership player after the Cats took him with pick 44 in 2000.