ALREADY the bold decisions that St Kilda list management team have made in recent years are starting to bear fruit, according to Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday evening, the four-time All-Australian praised the work of recruiters Ameet Bains, Tony Elshaug and co in developing and implementing a gutsy strategy for the future.

“The club has made some really courageous decisions,” Riewoldt said.

“BJ [Goddard] leaving was a really big decision by the club and obviously he made that decision… But we got Tom Hickey through the door as a result of that.”

St Kilda elected not to match Essendon’s four-year offer for Goddard, who had played 205 games for the club including three Grand Finals with Riewoldt.

It was a similar story with Ben McEvoy, although the ruckman wasn’t a restricted free agent, rather a contracted player who was traded to Hawthorn for pick 18 in the 2013 National Draft and Shane Savage.

Either way, St Kilda allowed two established players to leave, and Riewoldt said these decisions have already been beneficial.

“We got Luke Dunstan through the door as a result of the Ben McEvoy trade [at pick 18]… Lukey Dunstan has fitted in beautifully and he’s playing like a senior player after just two games so they are good signs.”

“Those courageous decisions have paid dividends so far. Tom Hickey’s first two games this year have been his best games of AFL football.”

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Dunstan collected 21 disposals in round one against Melbourne and was awarded with a NAB Rising Star nomination, while Hickey booted a career-high three goals against GWS on Saturday.

“He’s taken on that number on ruck role and he’s doing a great job. He’ll certainly know he’s alive next week when he takes on [Dean] Cox and Nic [Naitanui] which is a big challenge.”

St Kilda travels to Perth this weekend to take on the top-of-the-table West Coast Eagles. And while the clash presents a stern test for Alan Richardson’s men, Riewoldt is confident that if his young teammates bring the relentless endeavour they’ve shown so far in 2014, a win isn’t out of the question.

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“When you play against the Saints it is going to be a tough and contested game. We base our game around defence and that’s been strong to start the season. Who knows where that can take us? We know we are a young and developing team. The effort side of things is a non-negotiable and it’s been pleasing so far.”
And the values Richardson has instilled since he arrived at Linen House Centre last November have so far rung true, which isn’t always the case with a young team and a developing list.

“To give such great effort early and get some favourable results is so important for young players. I think as a young person you can give great effort, but if the result doesn’t go your way, then it can impact the way you give effort the following week. To get reward for effort is terrific and stands those players in great stead.

“We want to be known as a team that’s pretty hard to play against. That’s been the cornerstone of our pre-season and it’s been evident in the two games we’ve played this season.”

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