Ruck reinforcements are at the top of St Kilda's draft and trade wish list according to the club's development manager Tony Elshaug.
And while the opening day of trade talks produced no firm leads, the Saints are understood to have expressed strong interest in Geelong's Mark Blake.
Elshaug agreed the club would be interested in the services of Geelong premiership ruckman Steven King and said that King's age - he'll be 29 in November - would not be an issue.
But the Saints' preference is for 22-year-old Blake who was controversially dropped to make way for King in the Cats' premiership line-up despite having played 22 matches this season.
"Any ruckman that's out there, you would be certain to look at them," at the conclusion of the first round of trade talks at Telstra Dome on Monday.
The retirement of veteran big man Matthew Clarke who was only ever going to be a short-term fix in his one season at Moorabbin leaves the Saints with just Michael Rix, Barry Brooks and Michael Gardiner, who failed to get on the field at all in 2007 because of continuing problems with his feet, as ruck options on the club's senior list.
"All the clubs are looking for a ruckman," said Elshaug.
"If you've got a long-term strong ruckman at your club you've got a better chance of being successful. That's been proven with Ottens and King and Lade and Brogan and, in previous years, with Jolly and Ball.
"Everybody's convinced you need two strong ruckman to win a premiership and if we can't be looking down that road you've got to have something else special going in your team.
"I think everybody's looking for that sort of player if they can, but they may not be there."
Geelong football manager Neil Balme declined to comment on whether King and Blake were talked about with interested clubs or whether they will remain with the Cats in 2008.
"There's nothing to report at this stage," Balme said.
"There's a lot to be done and it's a very interesting situation but obviously they're very important players to us, both of them, so we'll talk it through."