Retiring St Kilda veteran Jarryn Geary is bullish the club can contend in the next few years, thanks to the wave of youngsters coming through.
The 34-year-old played 207 games and captained the club across his career, but never tasted the ultimate success.
While the Saints missed the eight in 2022, Geary is confident in the next generation of players coming through.
“The thing that gives me a bit of hope to contend earlier than what I thought is probably the development of some of the younger guys that we probably didn’t expect to develop so quickly,” he told AFL Trade Radio.
“Marcus Windhager, Mitch Owens and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, those guys have given me faith that if they can improve and put pressure on other guys in the team, they’ll be able to push up and challenge.
“I still think they need to add some players and probably why they’re looking at Jordan De Goey and wanting to add a talented top-end player like that to accelerate the journey.
“I think the main issue for us has been that consistency. If they can find that and it’s hard to do that week in week out, but if they can find it they can challenge in the next little period.
“They certainly need to add a couple more and rely on those younger guys to push the club forward.”
Geary is “bullish” about one young Saint in particular.
“The other guy I’m quite bullish on, and it may not be next year, and after losing Paddy Ryder it’s something we need to develop, and it’s Max Heath in the ruck,” he added.
“He’s just a competitive beast and he’s pretty raw still so he may take a little bit longer, but when he does play he’s going to scare a few and Saints fans will enjoy watching him.
“He’s probably got a little bit more development in him, but when he does play he’s going to be a pretty good player for the Saints.”