St Kilda’s interest in acquiring Lachie Neale is as strong as it’s ever been, with a key club figure commenting on the club’s dinner date with him in recent days.
Plus, the latest suitor for an out-of-contract Suns midfielder. Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!
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‘NICE TO GET THE INVITE’: SAINTS SPEAK ON DATE WITH DUAL BROWNLOW WINNER
St Kilda has confirmed its strong interest in the AFL’s most talked-about unrestricted free agent in Lachie Neale, days after their dinner with the dual Brownlow Medallist.
Neale, has already told Brisbane he intends to explore his options with rival clubs, and while the Lions are eager for him to remain at the club, they are very unlikely to compete with the three-year, seven-figure-a-year deals that are surfacing on the open market.
The 33-year-old spoke excellently and transparently with Fox Footy after last Thursday night’s 22-point win over Geelong, saying he “honestly doesn’t know” where he’ll be plying his trade in 2027.
“Yeah, we caught up with Lachie and it was pretty informal. Obviously Ross has got a great relationship with Lachie and has for a number of years and catches up with him quite regularly and it was nice to get the invite. It went well,” St Kilda General Manager Lenny Hayes told 3AW on Sunday.
“It was quite informal, hearing a bit about where Lachie is at with things and where we think we are at. We talked about the game more broadly. It is a bit of a shame that it is out in the public domain but times have changed.
“He’s still a very good player and we think he’s got a number of good years ahead of him and just looking at where he is at with his footy and what he is thinking in the next three or four years.”
Collingwood are still considered frontrunners to secure the dual premiership Lion should a move to Victoria eventuate, while Essendon have recently joined the race since the initial interest from Adelaide and West Coast.
Lachie Neale on his future | 02:07
NEW SUITOR EMERGES FOR OFF-CONTRACT SUN
Fringe Gold Coast midfielder Alex Davies is reportedly open to a move out west, as he continues to seek greater opportunity at senior level.
The West Australian’s Mitch Woodcock reported on Sunday morning the 24-year-old is “keen” to play for West Coast next season, citing the opportunity to play alongside the likes of Harley Reid and Willem Duursma as an enticing factor.
Davies is yet to appear at senior level since Round 9 this year, after undergoing surgery to heal a foot injury he picked up back in May.
After being taken as a Pre-Draft Academy Selection in 2020, the Manunda Cairns product has played 46 games in nearly six full seasons at the Suns.
Foxfooty.com.au’s Will Faulkner revealed back in May that Davies was open to a move away from Carrara, with Victorian clubs such as Essendon said to be keen on his services.
The Suns’ superstar recruit last season in Christian Petracca looks to have made both selection and midfield minutes even harder for Davies to attain.
In his six AFL games this season, Davies has attended 43% of centre ball-ups, down considerably from his 69% average last season from eight games.