there is one glaring fallacy in your post.
You can't "ensure" the PSD is a safe option because you do not know for certain what the financial situation of the other clubs is.
You also have a hidden assumption that because Carlisle's preference is the Saints that it's the only club he'll consider, and that further he prefers a good financial deal to a much higher chance of playing in a premiership.
They are all assumptions not certainties.
Based on that I think your conclusions are wrong. The power is with St Kilda in that they have a means of achieving their goal. This isn't like a situation like last year where Port wanted Ryder, but didn't actually possess what we wanted for him, meaning we had to settle. No. You have the means, you just don't want to spend it. Which is fine, but then don't go thinking it's up to Carlisle to do your deal for you. That is actually the biggest fallacy in your post. It is NOT up to Carlisle to get your deal done, it is up to YOU.
Saints have stuffed this big time. They thought they could screw EFC by waiting and extorting. When in fact when YOU commit to a player, it is YOUR responsibility to do what you have to to get him. Sure it may not be ideal, but that's tough tittie.
It blows my mind that St Kilda and Carlisle had all these meetings, and St Kilda CLEARLY convinced Jake they would do whatever it took to get him, but then in fact had no intention of doing that, and instead preferred to leave it in the fates of the negotiation gods and just assumed that they had some rubbish power, when is it now proven what a big lie that was. Carlisle would and should be furious it has come to this.
St Kilda have the means to get him! They obviously conveyed to Jake they'd do what was necessary to get him. Then they played games with that trust. Utterly disgusting.
It's not often I would ever say this, but... take a leaf out of Melbourne's book. They committed to Melksham, and because of that commitment the did what they had to to honour that commitment, even if it did mean they paid marginally overs - which your club refuses to do.
I was going to say the same but in the form of a gif





