St Kilda holds the ninth pick in this year’s National Draft and Callum Twomey believes they are looking to find a match-winner.
It’s no secret the Saints were all-in on attempting to lure Jordan De Goey in the trade period, looking for a dynamic player to break open games.
Twomey named South Australian midfielder Mattaes Phillipou as a player who could potentially fill that role from this draft.
“In terms of the Saints, Cam Mackenzie who is part of their Academy, with the Saints’ luck they don’t get access to him inside the top 40 picks and if they want him they’re going to have to use their own pick on him,” he told SEN’s Sportsday.
“He’s going to be right in the mix (for them). I think West Coast will be a chance for him, I think Geelong will be a chance for him as well, but they’re in the mix there.
“Mattaes Phillipou is another one. Oliver Hollands who is the younger brother of Elijah at the Gold Coast would also be in the range for midfield options.
“I think the Saints are looking for match-winners and they spoke about that through the trade period (going after Jordan De Goey).
“Phillipou could be the De Goey, he’s 192cm and goes forward and kicks goals, he’s got confidence that’s out of sight, he’s got all of that.
“Mackenzie is the Callum Mills of this year’s draft, that’s the player I liken him to. He’s a bull, he’s tough, he can mark overhead, he’s 187cm and spent some time and trained well at the Saints this year.
“Ross Lyon likes competitors, but he might like a runner and Ollie Hollands is the best runner in the draft and a two-way runner.”
The AFL changed the rules regarding Academy access after the Western Bulldogs got access to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan at the very top of the 2020 National Draft.
That has led to Melbourne missing out on Mac Andrew in 2021 and now the Saints with Mackenzie this year.