Pelchen said at this stage the club would continue to go about looking for the best available player to select, unless an opposition club came up with a deal too good to refuse.
"We're very open-minded in terms of trading our selection, and that shouldn't be a surprise to anybody," Pelchen told SEN.
"We had some discussions yesterday with a number of clubs. There's certainly interest from opposition teams in the number one selection, but at the moment nothing has been put on the table for us to consider…. If it is of benefit to St Kilda Football Club, then we will look at it.”
DRAFT WATCH: Road to the combine
The two players considered the best chance of being taken with the first pick are Eastern Ranges midfielder Christian Petracca and Geelong Falcons forward Paddy McCartin, while Sandringham Dragons midfielder Angus Brayshaw has also shot to prominence in recent months.Pelchen said if the Saints kept the top selection, they would be taking the best available player this year, before turning their attention to filling positional requirements in 2015 and 2016.
"We certainly never ignore our positional needs," he said.
"We've developed a very deliberate strategic plan between 2013 and 2016 to address our player list and its needs.
"We're certainly not going to ignore positional types, but this particular season, we'll be looking at the best player available and become more specific next year and the year following."
DRAFT WATCH: Younger Weller on fire
In a wide-ranging interview, Pelchen also addressed the extensive country-wide research that the recruiting team undertakes in order to makes deliberate and well-informed decisions by the time the National Draft comes around in late November.Tony Elshaug is the club’s chief recruiter, while Ameet Bains is the list manager.
“The preparations for the draft are the same whether you have the number on pick or the number 20 pick,” he said.
“Most AFL clubs would have between four and five recruiting staff. In addition to that, there is somewhere between 15-20 part-time scouts for most AFL clubs… It’s never left to just one person.
DRAFT WATCH: Saints recruiter eyeing off 2014 draft
Vic Metro's Christian Petracca is widely expected to be a top five draft selection in November.
In preparation for the trade and free agency period and National Draft, St Kilda needed to make room on its list in addition to the retirements of Lenny Hayes and Beau Maister.“The fact you have to sever ties with servants of the club is less than ideal. In our case, James Gwilt and Clint Jones were very difficult situations for us.
Broadly speaking, Pelchen said the days of club recruiters searching for the best available athletes are over.
“I think during the 90s and earlier this century, clubs were looking more at athletes.”
“I think it is coming back the other way. In our situation, we look at the best player available regardless of their size… Ultimately you need a mix of players to bring together a talented team.
DRAFT WATCH: Cream rising to the top
When asked about the rumours he was heading to Carlton, the Saints Head of Football dismissed the suggestions as “speculation.”“I look a lot better and slimmer in black than blue,” Pelchen joked.
“But there is always a lot of speculation around this time of the year about players, coaches and staff, and that’s purely all this is – speculation.”
