Lyon not looking for quick fix

ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has defended his club’s recruiting policy after the Saints took two recycled players in last week’s NAB AFL Draft.

The Saints gave second chances to Richmond ruckman Adam Pattison and injury-plagued North Melbourne player Jesse Smith.

While some questioned the club’s decision to opt for experience over youth, Lyon said Smith was the best option available at St Kilda’s second pick.

“At pick 60 I asked who we were taking and they said there was no one there we wanted to take, we want to take Jesse Smith," Lyon said from Linen House Oval on Monday. "I went through (recruiters) John Peake, John Beveridge and (list manager) Matthew Drain and they were unanimous and united in their decision that as the recruiting department they wanted to take Jesse Smith.

“It really was a recruiting department decision. I am happy to take a fair bit of heat but in saying that we’re rapt to get Jesse through.

"He was probably a chance to be a mature-aged rookie but on balance it was a collective decision. From here we’ll all be judged in the fullness of time.”

Lyon said he was not adopting a quick-fix recruiting philosophy, pointing to the Saints’ youth push at last year’s draft where they took 10 untried teenagers in the national and rookie drafts.

“Eight are still here so we think if you look over the two years we’ve taken as many draftees as all bar Fremantle," Lyon said. "We feel our leaders and our best players are going to be around for the next four or five years.

"Our premiership window is open but we haven’t put on hold developing a club for the future.

"I think some analysis that doesn’t scratch too far beneath the surface is a bit ill-informed and inaccurate but everyone’s entitled to their opinion.”

Lyon said he was confident Smith could recover from his hamstring and ankle injuries after a thorough examination from St Kilda’s medical team while Pattison has been brought in as backup for experienced ruck duo Steven King and Michael Gardiner and the emerging Ben McEvoy.

“Steven’s knee has deteriorated a little bit more from the time he got here," Lyon said. "We expect him to play and he was running around today.

"When you see the prices that are extracted out of clubs to get ruckmen through as in draft picks and salary we felt it was a forward-planning decision as well. It was really opportunistic.”