David King has predicted that former GWS midfielder Jack Steele will have a fantastic debut season at new club St Kilda after being highly impressed by his first pre-season with the Saints.
The 21-year-old was one of St Kilda best in their 92 point thrashing of Carlton in their JLT Community Series clash last weekend, picking up 25 disposals, six marks, eight tackles and two goals.
King says that Steele is the type of player that any club would want in their line-up, believing the Saints to be the big winners from the trade which saw the club send their second round pick in the 2017 AFL National Draft to the Giants in exchange for the midfielder.
“He is the player every club is looking for - that bigger bodied midfielder that just wins his own ball,” the dual North Melbourne premiership player said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“I just watch Jack Steele work and he hunts. I just think he’ll be a fantastic get for them and he’ll have a fantastic year.”
Glenn Luff agreed, and considers Steele’s acquisition could be yet another success for the Saints in recycling unwanted players from other clubs.
The Saints have recruited 14 players from other clubs in the past four years, with only two of those, Trent Dennis-Lane and Luke Delaney, having been delisted since then.
“(Steele) showed that he can get the footy, can kick goals and he’s a good tackler. He does rack up some massive numbers and in the NEAFL last year, they were off the charts,” the Champion Data analyst said.
“He would have been part of any other midfield and he was up for grabs. He just wanted opportunity and the Saints pounced.
“Their ability to pluck players from other clubs has been sensational since 2013.”
St Kilda's next JLT Community Series match will take place at Albury’s Lavington Sports Ground on Sunday, where they will take on the Sydney Swans.
The Saints' 12 current recycled pickups:
Dylan Roberton (from Fremantle)
Tom Hickey (Gold Coast)
Shane Savage (Hawthorn)
Josh Bruce (GWS Giants)
Billy Longer (Brisbane Lions)
Tim Membrey (Sydney Swans)
Maverick Weller (Gold Coast)
Nathan Freeman (Collingwood)
Jake Carlisle (Essendon)
Nathan Brown (Collingwood)
Jack Steele (GWS Giants)
Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs)
Click here to view Jack Steele's SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings.