PERSISTANCE, patience and perseverance are words that spring to mind when you consider St Kilda's Ryan Gamble.

His AFL career was teetering when he was delisted by Geelong last year after just 24 games across five seasons with the Cats.

The 23-year-old forward was overlooked in Geelong's 2007 and 2009 premiership squads and was eventually cut by the Cats after only two AFL appearances in 2010.

But St Kilda took interest in the skilful forward and snared him cheaply with pick 90 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.

With a four-goal haul against Port Adelaide on Sunday afternoon, it seems that the Saints' punt on Gamble is beginning to pay dividends, but St Kilda midfielder Clinton Jones says Gamble's worth runs deeper than simply his impact on the scoreboard.

"He's given us another tall target up forward and he's kicking goals, but what we like most is his pressure and his tackling."

While Gamble only laid three tackles against the Power on Sunday afternoon, Saints coach Ross Lyon said his pace and intensity created uncertainty among rival defenders.

"I know he kicked some goals but that happens when things open up; I was more pleased with his pressure," Lyon said.

"Most goals are caused from turnovers. To get turnovers you need pressure, and I thought Ryan was a part of that."

The Saints have a renewed enthusiasm after winning five of their past seven matches, and are tantalisingly close to breaking into the top eight for the first time this season.

But Jones insists the Saints have not wasted time pondering their climb back up the AFL ladder.

"We haven't really focused too much on the eight; we've just focused on improving and getting our structures and systems right, which over the past four to six weeks I think we've done."

"[It's only] now we've sort of realised we are just outside the eight. Hopefully we can get the wins together and press to get in."

After falling to Carlton, Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood this season, the Saints will get another chance to prove their finals credentials next week when they face West Coast on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.

Jones said the Saints were excited by the challenge posed by the in-form Eagles.

"They're very much an improved side," he said.

"Their press and zone is one of their features at the moment, so it's going to be a big test for us."

"The players already are looking forward to it."