Paddy McCartin is now the face of the rebuild at AFL strugglers St Kilda.

As expected, the Saints used the No.1 pick at the national draft to recruit the 18-year-old key forward.

The bottom side this season did exhaustive research on who they would take with the prized first pick.

Their choice had come down to the 193cm forward and midfielder Christian Petracca, who went to Melbourne with the second pick.

No-one would have argued had the Saints taken Petracca, but it made plenty of sense to go with McCartin.

It means they can start a key-forward succession plan from captain and all-time great Nick Riewoldt to McCartin.

His recruiting at Thursday night’s draft on the Gold Coast completes a massive week for the Saints.

On Monday, they announced that Riewoldt had signed a new contract through to 2016.

Riewoldt is desperate to be part of the Saints’ next big era and the plan will be for a natural handover from him to McCartin as their main marking forward.

A day later, St Kilda announced another brutal annual financial loss of $2.4m.

They have been in decline on and off the field since making the 2009-10 grand finals for a draw and two losses.

But their record with the No.1 pick is exceptional.

They took Riewoldt with the top selection in 2000 and two years later used it on star utility Brendon Goddard, who is now at Essendon.

McCartin was diagnosed with type-one diabetes nine years ago.

He said this has made better organised in his life and from there has helped his football.

McCartin is a natural key forward who marks well and is a one-touch player.

He has played for Geelong Grammar and the Geelong Falcons, after starring last year for Vic Country in the national under-18 championships.