It's hard to see Isaac Keeler donning a St Kilda guernsey for the first time and not instantly envisage Noongar star Paddy Ryder.

Both are tall, athletic, skilful, and one left the game a favourite Saint after just three seasons at the club, the other has the attributes to be a cult hero just the same.

"He's reached out to me, saying congratulations and that sort of thing," Keeler says.

"All the boys (at St Kilda) have said he's pretty down to earth and that he'll be happy to help out, I hope."

Ryder launched a memorable career at Essendon, winning the 2009 Anzac Medal for his heroics against Collingwood, but it was not until a move to Port Adelaide on the back of the supplements scandal that the 198cm champion displayed classic tap-work to turn into one of the best rucks of the modern era.

While they're even the same height, the difference that does separate the pair is that Keeler adamantly prefers to just "enter the ruck to have a bit of a pinch hit".

That extends to emulating two of the most sublime Indigenous forwards of recent times by starting matches "down forward, obviously get around the ball and get right in scoring distance".

"I do first remember Paddy at Essendon kicking all those snaps on Anzac Day," Keeler says.

"I've watched him a fair bit, obviously towards the later stage of his career, because I was in the draft this year.

"I've been scoping out what he does well, with his ruck work and his craft, but really, I'm mainly looking at other players from a forward prospective: Buddy Franklin, and other tall forwards, like a Charlie Curnow.

"I've been taking little things out of their book, so I can put them into mine."

Keeler ticks all the boxes for players in the 21st century game.

"I am pretty big on my athleticism – I really having a run and jump at the ball, and taking marks at the highest point," Keeler says.

"I also think it's about my goal sense, when I'm down forward and creating goals for other players off the ball and setting them up."

Considering the comparisons from talent scouts, it was a genuine surprise to many of the pundits that Keeler slipped to selection 44 in last month's 2022 AFL draft.

For five years, the proud Kokatha, Mirning and Wirangu man had been solely tied to Adelaide through its Next Generation Academy.

But changes to securing club's own academy players – that rivals could draft them in the top 40 this year after previously matching a bid after the initial 20 picks – made it harder for the club to retain the one-time South Augusta product.

"The Crows said to me that they thought I'd be going in the top 40," Keeler said.

"They didn't really want to guarantee me anything, I'd say, and fortunately enough I got past that pick towards the Saints."

Literally that pick – number 43.

Adelaide snared his North Adelaide teammate Billy Dowling before St Kilda, who were "pleasantly shocked" at Keeler's availability, were delighted to name him with the very next pick.

"I had a few chats before with the St Kilda management – they were pretty keen," he said.

"I feel I had a good connection and bond with them, and when it came to draft time, there was a few clubs that had an interest, but I felt the Saints were one of the best clubs I could go to."

That is not disregarding the fact that the Saints do have a longer history than most for wrapping their arms around more Indigenous heroes when they arrive at Moorabbin.

While Ben Long has ventured to Gold Coast, Jarrod Leinert was cut, and Ryder retired in the offseason, Keeler joins an Aboriginal legacy of Jade Gresham, Brad Hill, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager and Jack Peris for the new season.

Wanganeen-Milera – St Kilda's top draft pick last year – is a distant cousin from the same Wirangu country, while Peris, the son of dual hockey and sprinting Olympian Nova Peris, is one of Keeler's housemates while also "acting like a big brother".

"I feel I already had a few connections at the club," Keeler said.

"It is heaps good having a few brother boys here.

"Mum and dad are both from the west coast (of South Australia) and we always get back there every now and again back towards Ceduna, because our culture is really important in our family."