St Kilda has closed out a successful AFL Trade Period by securing the services of young ruckman, Billy Longer and key defender, Josh Bruce after the Saints agreed to trades with the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney today.
Longer moves to the Saints in exchange for pick 25 and 41, with the Lions also returning pick 48.
The Saints then on-traded pick 48 to GWS in exchange for Bruce.
The pair officially joined St Kilda on the final day of the 2013 Gillette AFL Trade Period, joining former North Melbourne defender Luke Delaney and former Hawthorn midfielder Shane Savage at the Saints.
Delaney came to St Kilda in exchange for pick 77, while Savage came to St Kilda in exchange for pick 18 and ruckman Ben McEvoy.
The Saints have also significantly improved their draft position over the trade and free agency period, with three first-round draft picks (3, 18 and 19).
"We are extremely pleased with the results of the 2013 AFL trade period. Our player list is undergoing a strategic transition that is committed to the long term success of the St Kilda Football Club", said Head of Football, Chris Pelchen.
"We understand the challenges ahead of us but are confident that the decisions being made will build a solid foundation on which future success will come. To achieve our objective of acquiring three draft selections inside the top 20 for the first time since 2001, while still bringing four new young players to the club, is an excellent outcome for the Saints.”
Longer is the only ruckman to be drafted in the top eight over the past four years, when the Lions took him with pick eight at the 2011 NAB AFL Draft.
He was named in the All-Australian Under 18 team after an impressive showing as Captain of Victoria Metro in the 2011 NAB AFL Under 18 championships.
202cm Longer has played nine senior games in his first two seasons in the AFL system.
“Billy has a lot of raw talent, is strong in the contest and has also shown signs of being a more than capable forward,” coach Scott Watters said.
“His understanding of what it takes to prepare is growing and he is determined to do the work required. The challenge is now there for our young ruckmen Billy, Tom Hickey and Lewis Pierce to take their games to the next level.”
The 196cm Bruce played 14 games in his two seasons with GWS.
The Canberra-born backman adds to the Saints’ tall defensive stocks, along with Delaney who was traded in from North Melbourne earlier in the week.
Watters said the Saints had monitored Bruce’s progress in his two seasons with the Giants.
“Josh's progression over the last 18 months has been significant. At 196 and 96kg he has the size and athleticism to play a number of roles in the defensive half,” Watters said.
“With only 14 games of AFL experience, he's still a young, developing player but he is an excellent competitor and has a great attitude.”
