St Kilda recruit Dan Butler says he had to choose the Saints after the way they sold the club and its future to him.
Butler, 23, fell out of favour with the Tigers in 2019 and was a target for a number of clubs during the trade period.
“I had a couple of meetings with the list manager Gags (James Gallagher) and met Ratts (Brett Ratten) as well,” Butler said on SEN Breakfast.
“They were very welcoming with me and really believed in me and my strengths as a footballer.
“They just really sold it to me, and it was hard not to choose them when it came down to it.”
Butler felt on the outer for much of the season with the Tigers and began to realise his future may lie elsewhere the longer he was out of the side.
“It was probably the second half of the year where I knew I was out of contract at the end of this year and obviously wasn’t getting the opportunity I would have liked at AFL level,” he said.
“Towards the end of the season was when I really had to make a decision.”
He credited emerging stars Sydney Stack and Shai Bolton with keeping him out of the side but believes the Tigers are benefitting from their play.
Looking ahead, Butler said the young talent at St Kilda was what excited him most heading in to 2020 and beyond.
“They’ve got (Jade) Gresham and (Jack) Steele,” he added.
“I reckon Gresham’s a fair gun; I love watching him play. Matty Parker and Jack Lonie and (Max) King, who’s going to be a star.
“I’m really looking forward to playing alongside them and some of the new recruits; Brad Hill and the likes as well.”
Butler played 45 games in his time with Richmond, kicking 53 goals, but only featured seven times in 2019 leading to his move to the Saints.
Listen to Dan Butler on SEN Breakfast in the player below: