AHMED Saad will be able to adjust his goal-kicking routine without compromising his efficiency, according to Saints coach Scott Watters.

The AFL has clamped down on the 30 second time-frame for a set-shot for the 2013 season, forcing Saad to slightly modify his set-shot routine.

“(Saad) now has a quicker approach,” Watters said.

“Obviously every goal-kicker has a routine, he’s refined it.”

The small forward, who was St Kilda’s third highest goal-kicker in 2012 with 28 majors, drew attention for his distinctive and thorough approach to set shot goal kicking last year.

“There was probably still a fair bit of space in there to trim anyway. We are comfortable with where his routine is at,” Watters said.

The St Kilda coach jokingly recalled the first time he saw Saad kick for goal, at Seaford late in 2011.

“It was here at training. I went in, grabbed a coffee, came out and he was still going through the routine. It took us by surprise but given the efficiency, we didn’t make too many changes to it,” he said.

Saad played 16 games in 2012 and established himself in the senior team. His four-goal haul in Round 16 was a game-high as he and Stephen Milne ran amok around the Brisbane defenders in a hard-fought win at the Gabba.