Ahead of the club’s busiest and most aggressive trade period yet, St Kilda has sent a warning to the rest of the competition: It has “plenty of money” and “we’ll go hunting again next year.”

The Saints have been on a big-money recruiting drive with a $4.5 million splash on several targets.

That includes already securing free agents Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, while Sam Flanders, Liam Ryan and Leek Aleer are set to follow in the trade period.

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And Saints head of talent and acquisition Graeme ‘Gubby’ Allan declared they weren’t done yet as part of a fascinating press conference.

Allan said there was “not a problem” fitting in all their salaries, proclaiming St Kilda would “still go fishing” and be big players next year as “we’ve got plenty of money”.

“We’re still going … we’ve got plenty of money to splash,” he said, later clarifying the club had planned its salary cap to go hard this off-season.

“Ross (Lyon) was coaching under restrictions this year,” Allan said.

“We battled to get to 95 per cent (of the salary cap) right at the end, which we have to under league rules.

“So it’s a lot of front-ending (contracts).”

new saint tom de koningSource: Supplied

Allan revealed his comrade, Saints list manager Stephen Silvagni, was “shocked” by the club’s bid for his son, Jack, after St Kilda launched a late play for the Blues free agent to snare him from rival suitors.

“I didn’t tell his dad,” Allan said of the Saints’ play for Jack Silvagni.

“We’re great mates, but I didn’t tell him. So he was shocked.

“Then Ross came over the top. When Ross comes over the top, you get out of the way.”

October 3, 2025 – New St Kilda signing Jack Silvagni. Picture: St Kilda FCSource: Supplied

Allan expects Pick 7 would be a “straight swap” for Flanders and admitted the club was surprised the Suns gun chose Moorabbin to be his new home after “good offers” from multiple Victorian sides.

“We thought he might have gone to another club, we were really happy Sam picked us. He had some good offers,” he said.

While the Saints have been busy brining players in, Rowan Marshall has requested a trade to Geelong and the club has encouraged Jack Steele to explore his options elsewhere.

Allan said the club had yet to begin talks with the Cats on a deal for Marshall.

“Rowan’s a great fella, we’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“We’ll do what’s best for the St Kilda Football Club … I don’t know (what we’re expecting in a deal). We’ll talk to the Cats and see what they have to say.”

As for Steele, who stepped down as captain, there’s yet to be any genuine interest in the midfielder.

“Jack’s a great fella, I’ve known Jack since he was 18 at the Giants,” Allan said.

“We’ll just see what happens in the next two weeks. I haven’t spoken to anyone yet. We’re here today, it starts now.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 06: Graeme Allan, Head of Talent and Acquisition of St Kilda during the 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period at Marvel Stadium on October 6, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

With Steele losing the captaincy, Callum Wilkie is expected to step into the role, despite speculation around the star defender’s own future and talk of him searching for a contract upgrade after interest from Western Bulldogs.

But Allan said Wilkie had been given “no promises” and that he wouldn’t “talk about extensions or contracts,” while a decision on whether he would be the next captain was “out of my pay packet.”

The Saints list guru said the re-signing of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera for two more years was the most crucial aspect of the club’s list build, joking it might’ve kept him his job.

“I think ‘Nas’ signing was really important for us. Without ‘Nas’ signing, I’m not sure I’d be here talking with you guys. Mightn’t have anything on the table,” Allan said.

“I think so (it’s been a game changer).”

So why hadn’t the Saints gone so hard on trade and free agency before?

“You’ve got to go to the draft and get a lot of good young kids before you can get to that next step,” Allan added.

“I think we’ve done that for a few years now.”