The problem for the Saints is they have already traded out their second and third round picks in this year's draft, so their scope for trading to make major change on their list is slightly limited. Assuming they finish third bottom and the Suns get a compensation pick for Tom Lynch, St Kilda will have pick four in the draft. Loading St Kilda are open to involving pick four in trade negotiations, not as a direct swap with Sydney for Hannebery but potentially with a third club as they explore up options to creatively attack their list. The Saints could try to trade for Hannebery with a future pick or players but putting four on the table, especially with a third club, would open up options for them.

It's worth remembering that Hannebery is contracted with three years to run at Sydney, so the Swans have a significant say in what, if anything, happens next. What Hannebery is worth in a trade is difficult to assess given his age and the games he has played this year, but the size of his contract would have Sydney asking for reasonable compensation in the event they agree to trade. The Saints need to overhaul their list more than their coaches. They have backed Alan Richardson in, they will turn over some assistant coaches and they have appointed a new list manager and promoted a new national recruiting manager. The list is their focus. Putting four in play could open things up for St Kilda, which is not to say they should or will do it but as they want to aggressively attack their list then creative options present by putting four on the table. Adelaide presently has an abundance of draft picks. They have three picks inside 20 in this year's draft (their first round pick, Melbourne's first rounder from the Jake Lever trade and Carlton's second round pick from the Bryce Gibbs trade). They also have Carlton's third round pick from the Gibbs deal.

Adelaide has made no secret of their desire to get deeper in the draft order to be able to secure one of the highly rated South Australian players Jack Lukosius or Izak Rankine and would be open to bundling draft picks to do so. St Kilda could try to do pick four to Adelaide for two first rounders which would give them something to pass on to Sydney for Hannebery while keeping a first rounder for themselves in the draft. Clubs other than Adelaide would also consider packaging their first round pick up with either other draft picks or a player to try to entice St Kilda to trade four. The argument against this type of arrangement for St Kilda is the Melbourne experience of trading pick two to GWS in a deal that effectively netted them Christian Salem, Dom Tyson and Jayden Hunt. GWS got Josh Kelly. Clubs would give up more than that for Kelly now. Should Sydney agree to trade Hannebery, where would that leave them in the trade period?