The Saints have signed teenaged hurling star Darragh Joyce and 22-year-old Ray Connellan, a member of 2015 International Rules squad, with both young Irishman to relocate to Melbourne as early as next month.

Recruiting boss Tony Elshaug confirmed the club had completed its paperwork signing both players on two-year contracts despite Connellan suffering a broken leg several weeks ago playing for Westmeath in the Leinster final against Dublin.

"Our strategy from mid-2013 has been to increase our talent base through different means," said Elshaug, "and we hope these boys could play a significant part in that." The Saints, which have also access to their New Zealand scholarship pair Barclay Miller and Joe Baker-Thomas must soon make a call on US-born former college basketballer Jason Holmes after three years with the club as an international rookie.

The Saints, which must either promote Holmes to its main list or de-list him putting Holmes back into the draft, are expected to make a decision on the popular 25-year-old after the VFL finals series after just re-signing ruck duo Lewis Pierce and Billy Longer.

Elshaug, with his recruiting lieutenant Wayne Hughes, had virtually committed to taking the amateur Irish pair after a three-week trial from the middle of June this year where they spent three weeks training at Seaford.

"We asked them to go home and spend a week just having a real think about what they were committing to," Elshaug told Fairfax Media.

"We wanted them to talk to their families about what they would be giving up and leaving behind in terms of home and their studies and the challenges ahead. They both came back and accepted. To be honest I think they would have been happy to stay in Australia from the time they came out here."

Connellan has undergone surgery for two breaks to the fibula above his ankle but remains hopeful of relocating to Melbourne along with Joyce in time for Sandringham's VFL finals campaign. Post surgery he told the Irish Independent: "Injuries happen in sport. They (St Kilda) know that. It's not going to be any major delay.

"Pre-season doesn't start until November so it's not going to affect it too much. My fitness will probably be a bit off but it's nothing I can't deal with." Joyce, 19, the captain of Kilkenny's all-Ireland minors hurling team, has been on St Kilda's radar since he attended the AFL Irish Combine almost two years ago and then the Melbourne Combine last year. The Saints first entertained the prospect of taking two Irish recruits when Elshaug saw Connellan at the AFL Academy Camp in Florida at the start of this year.

He then travelled to Ireland to meet the families of both players in a bid to secure them for the three-week mid-year trial.

"That was a great experience for me," said Elshaug, "my first trip to Ireland and meeting the two families. It's something as a club we've been through before and we've found them to be generally very strong and resilient."

Under an AFL agreement with the Gaelic Athletic Association clubs are only allowed one Irish player on their international (category B) rookie list which dictates that the older player Connellan is likely to come to the Saints as a category A rookie.

A total of 19 Irishmen have played senior VFL-AFL games with Carlton's Zach Tuohy (98 games) soon to join Jim Stynes (264) Tadgh Kennelly (197), Sean Wight (150) and Pearce Hanley (107) in reaching the 100-game milestone.

Joyce and Connellan join Dermott McNicholl, Cathal Corr and Tommy Walsh, all of whom were previously listed Irish players at St Kilda.