West Coast premiership forward Liam Ryan has nominated St Kilda as his preferred club of choice for season 2026.
Ryan, 28, completed a successful medical assessment this week with the Saints, and is now keen to move to Melbourne on a three-year deal competition sources estimate to be worth about $600,000 a season.
Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom tackles Liam Ryan of the Eagles.Credit: Paul Rovere
A source close to Ryan confirmed to this masthead on Saturday his decision to nominate the Saints ahead of the annual trade period, beginning October 6.
As he remains contracted to the Eagles until the end of 2026, the two clubs will need to broker a trade. There is also a trigger for a fourth year of the deal.
Ryan was linked with a move to Moorabbin through the season.
Should a deal be done, it will add to a major off-season splurge by the Saints, who are poised to secure unrestricted Carlton free agent Jack Silvagni and his teammate Tom De Koning, the latter in an eight-year deal worth about $13 million.
The Saints are also pursuing Greater Western Sydney defender Leek Aleer, with Ross Lyon in Sydney on Saturday watching the Giants’ elimination final against Hawthorn.
Leek has been linked with the Saints all season, with the Saints offering a four-year deal worth about $3 million.
Competition sources have also linked the Saints to Gold Coast defender Sam Flanders, who has two years to run on his contract, and Hawthorn midfielder Cam Mackenzie.