The Age Credit: Artists
St Kilda have not been afraid to pop the question to players from rival clubs in the past two seasons as they endeavour to add talent to their list, which remains mostly competitive but still largely in development mode.
While focusing on getting their draft picks right, the Saints have readily offered big money to key targets.
St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has a massive career decision looming.Credit: AFL Photos
It makes them a most interesting watch in this post-bye period, as players speculated to be up for trade firm up their decisions on their future. The first of the big-name targets to act was Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell, whose decision to stay at the Suns was revealed by this masthead on Sunday.
The Saints are making their approaches to others while also waiting on their own in-demand star – Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – to decide on his future. A priority signing for the Saints, he faces a choice between sticking with the club that gave him a shot at the big time, or returning home to South Australia.
Marcus Windhager, a consistent performer in the midfield across 66 games in his first three-and-a-half seasons, has been attracting attention recently after being cast by Saints coach Ross Lyon recently as a run-with player, and remains unsigned at this point.
Marcus Windhager, who is doing a great job for his team, remains unsigned beyond this season. Credit: Getty Images
Ryan Byrnes, Jimmy Webster and Liam Stocker, who all played against Collingwood, are also out of contract at season’s end, as is defender Dougal Howard.
The Saints’ super-sized, $12 million offer for Carlton ruckman De Koning – worth about $1.7 million annually – is well-documented, and they were similarly aggressive in their pursuit of GWS defender Leek Aleer at the end of last season.
The Saints have not been ruled out as a potential home for Port Adelaide star Miles Bergman, who has several suitors – including the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.
Balancing retention and acquisition is always difficult, particularly entering an end-of-season market where a poor draft cluttered with father-son and academy selections is expected to turbocharge the trade period.
Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders, who is versatile enough to play through the midfield or on a flank at either end, was one player the Saints loosely enquired about as they continue to scour the country for talented midfielders, but their overtures were quickly knocked on the head.
He will remain with the Suns, where he is contracted until 2027. After a breakout season in 2024, he is going nowhere after Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick rejected the prospect of him heading back to Victoria.
“We’re not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won’t be going anywhere,” Hardwick said.
After Jack Macrae joined them from the Western Bulldogs last year, there is a chance of the Saints upgrading their midfield with another rival club’s best-and-fairest winner, given Hawthorn’s unrestricted free agent James Worpel is still on the market.
Josh Ward is the latest midfielder locked in at the Hawks. Credit: Getty Images
The Hawks announced a new deal for Josh Ward on Monday, locking him in until 2029, which is another piece of the puzzle Worpel must consider as he weighs up his future.
Although the Hawks have offered Worpel a new deal, they now have Conor Nash (2029), Jai Newcombe (2026), top-10 draftees Ward (2029) and Cam Mackenzie (2026), and Henry Hustwaite (2026) under contract among their midfield brigade. Hybrid forward-midfielder Dylan Moore (2026) is also locked away, while Massimo D’Ambrosio has inked a three-year extension.
Small forward Sam Butler is yet to start talks, having only just returned to senior football this month after a broken leg kept him sidelined for an extended period. However, he has obvious talent the Hawks are keen to retain.
With Harley Reid and Zak Butters potentially on the market next season, the Hawks will want to retain space in their cap.
Worpel has been linked with Geelong, who are in the market for a ready-made midfielder after missing out on Rowell, and while top-10 draft pick Jhye Clark is yet to cement a spot in their line-up.
The view among rival clubs is that Geelong would be the frontrunner to secure Worpel if the former Geelong Falcons player decided to depart the Hawks.
Giants on guard for another raid
Greater Western Sydney could be headed for another off-season player drain, as rivals keep tabs on out-of-contract trio Leek Aleer, Callum Brown and Xavier O’Halloran.
Callum Brown is an athletic Giant.Credit: AFL Photos
James Peatling (Adelaide) and free agents Isaac Cumming (Adelaide), Harry Perryman (Collingwood) and Nick Haynes (Carlton) all departed at the end of last year, while the Giants traded for ex-Essendon forward Jake Stringer, who was a key part of their fast-finishing win over Gold Coast on Sunday.
GWS defender Leek Aleer (left) flies against Gold Coast’s Ben King in a marking contest on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions have monitored Aleer’s contract situation, with the Saints presenting him a lucrative six-year deal last year that he knocked back to complete his GWS contract this season.
The 23-year-old has played the past five matches for the Giants after not being able to break in before that, and has looked comfortable at the level while displaying the athleticism and intercept skills that appeal to his opposition suitors.
GWS have a more modest two-year deal in front of Aleer’s management.
Brown, 24, has become a regular goalkicker for GWS in recent seasons, including 13 in his past six matches. Melbourne are one of several clubs monitoring the Irishman – but he is in preliminary discussions to re-sign.
The Demons have shown a penchant for recruiting medium-sized forwards, from Bayley Fritsch to Shane McAdam and Harry Sharp. They also tried to lure the Giants’ key-position swingman Wade Derksen south last year.
The Western Bulldogs were keen to secure O’Halloran in the 2024 trade period; a move that was on trend for a club that has targeted under-valued rival players, such as Matt Kennedy, James Harmes, Lachie Bramble, Nick Coffield, Oskar Baker and Taylor Duryea, in recent seasons.
Reward for contracted Roo’s All-Australian form
Tristan Xerri has proved a revelation at the Kangaroos since signing a long-term contract extension at the start of last season that locked him into the club until 2029. His form has been so good this season that he is a serious contender for All-Australian selection, and had the better of in-demand Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning on Saturday.
Tristan Xerri has been vital at North Melbourne and is in All-Australian calculations Credit: Getty Images
The Kangaroos have moved swiftly to ensure he is rewarded for his lion-hearted efforts, and are in productive dialogue with Xerri to ensure his contract matches his output. The 26-year-old, who attempted to join St Kilda when he was seeking greater exposure at senior level, is now one of North’s most respected players.
Collingwood’s Darcy Cameron – who was again best on ground in the Magpies’ win over St Kilda on Saturday night, earning 10 coaches votes – remains hopeful of a similar uplift after being a brilliant contributor to the Magpies for nearly three seasons since the club moved Brodie Grundy on for salary cap reasons.
However, competition sources – who preferred to remain anonymous on contract discussions – say clubs are aware the process has been slow. Carlton and West Coast are monitoring the situation in case an agreement can’t be reached. Cameron has publicly expressed his desire to remain with the Magpies where he is key to their premiership aspirations.
Lions in talks with premiership defender
The Brisbane Lions have re-engaged in contract discussions with star defender and restricted free agent Brandon Starcevich as they try to lock away a key player from last year’s premiership side.
Starcevich, who turns 26 in July, played his third game of the season against Geelong on Friday night after three months off between his first and second to recover from his third concussion in eight months. Lions coach Chris Fagan had no hesitation giving him the big job on milestone man Patrick Dangerfield last Friday night.
The West Australian is in the process of deciding on his future, with the Lions putting forward multiple options for him to consider amid league-wide interest in the premiership defender.
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