Stung by being axed from their previous AFL clubs, Ryan Gamble and Dean Polo have vowed to make the most of their career lifeline at St Kilda.

Mature-age players Gamble and Polo were recycled by the Saints in last week's national draft after being delisted by Geelong and Richmond.

Gamble, who spent much of last season languishing in the backline at VFL level with the Cats, believes he can provide what the Saints are looking for as a possible third marking forward option.

And dumped Tiger Polo - who never quite managed to hit the heights again after a memorable best-on-ground display on his AFL debut - says he's determined not to let his new club down after having his career resurrected by the grand finalists.

"It definitely does (make the desire stronger)," said Polo, who can play in midfield or defence.

"It's been a long time since round 22 to draft day and it's been burning inside ever since. I'm really grateful to St Kilda for giving me the opportunity, and I'm not going to let them down."

Gamble, 23, is an intriguing addition after impressing during 2008 but failing to capitalise and cement a regular spot at Geelong.

"You've got your two talls in (Nick) Riewoldt and (Justin) Koschitzke and the small blokes in (Stephen) Milne and (Adam) Schneider and they're sort of missing that mid-size forward and I think I can definitely offer something," he said.

"Probably the later end of the year when I hadn't had many games in the first 15 rounds - I think I'd played two - that was when I really started to think about what's best for my career.

"Is it at Geelong or somewhere else?"

The Saints have regularly rolled the dice with recycled players under coach Ross Lyon, and the "last chance saloon" concept has had more successes than failures.

Wins have included Schneider (ex-Sydney), Michael Gardiner (West Coast), Steven King (Geelong), Farren Ray (Western Bulldogs) and Zac Dawson (Hawthorn).

But there have also been busts such as former Richmond duo Aaron Fiora and Adam Pattison, and troubled ex-Essendon midfielder Andrew Lovett who failed to play a game before being sacked by the Saints.

Lyon had been offered both Gamble and Polo during trade week, but held off believing the duo could be delisted and the club could pick them up for nothing.

"You tend to have to give up more (during trade week) so there was a little bit of strategy in that I suppose," Lyon said.

"Once they got delisted, we had them as people to research and felt they had something to offer and we had something to offer them.

"We have a really strong system here which can bring both players on.

"But the reality's going to be in performance and those players delivering week in, week out."

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