Why St Kilda is "not finished" at trade table and the reason behind choosing Gabba as final venue
St Kilda Chief Operating Officer Simon Lethlean has explained why the club wanted to play their elimination final at the Gabba.
The Saints return to the finals for the first time since 2011 next week, squaring off against Western Bulldogs on October 3.
As the higher placed of the two teams on the ladder, the Saints requested the game be held in Brisbane rather than on the Gold Coast or in Adelaide, a request which the AFL accepted.
Lethlean said the Saints pushed for the game to be held at the Gabba because they were used to the trip from Noosa, where their interstate hub is based.
“We’ve played the majority of our games in Queensland,” Lethlean said on SEN Mornings.
“It’s a really manageable two-hour bus trip which we’re all really used to, going to Metricon Stadium is an extra hour.
“The Dogs are currently (based) five minutes from Metricon and have played some of their home games there this year so the Gabba just feels like our home up here and it’s the environment we’re most comfortable with.
“We’ve played some good footy there at our best so it’s as simple as that but again, if it was Metricon it was Metricon but we just prefer the Gabba.”
St Kilda’s success this season was largely set up on the back of their trade haul in 2019, when the club secured Paddy Ryder, Zak Jones, Dan Butler, Brad Hill and Dougal Howard in one off-season.
Lethlean didn't rule out the club going after more high-profile players if they were going to improve the side’s fortunes in 2021.
“It’s a busy time of year and we’ll be as active as we can be to find players that compliment us,” he said.
“It’ll be an interesting six weeks on that front. I think you’d be as active as you can be, if there’s players that make you better that want to come, you’ll generally find a way to get that done if you can.
“We don’t think we’re finished with improving our list, we certainly think the five guys we all added (last off-season) have been almost in our best 10 players so if we can (find) more players that can make us better, that’s our intention.
“It was an unusual scenario to have so many players who wanted to come and be able to get it done so we’ve certainly got our sights set on some (players this year) and only if they complement what we need.
“Every good team, of which we haven’t been in the last little while, look to add good players to their list every year so we’re certainly in that market as well.”
Lethlean confirmed midfielder Zak Jones, who missed St Kilda’s Round 18 win over GWS with a hamstring injury, would be right to face the Dogs in next weekend’s sudden-death final.
“Zak will be right,” he said.
“The hamstring strain was less than last time when he only missed a game so missing a game plus the bye week should see him in the selection frame which is good.
“There’s a couple of other guys who have some niggles and are having a bit of a break today so we should be right to have the full squad out there apart from Jade Gresham, which is a great result and a credit to our medical staff as well.”