Jake Carlisle to stay at Saints as Brett Ratten plots future of St Kilda list
Despite growing speculation he might be traded, St Kilda has told Jake Carlisle he is a required player next year. And with the coach locked in, St Kilda is targeting some fresh blood.
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Jake Carlisle will play at St Kilda next year but will have to wait until the season proper before the Saints will consider a contract extension.
Carlisle’s manager Anthony McConville told the Herald Sun the Saints had told the key back he was a required player for 2020 despite intensifying trade speculation.
On the day Brett Ratten was appointed for the next three seasons he was non-committal about the club’s trade position.
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But McConville said Carlisle, 28 next month, would play out the last year of his contract after hitting a games-based contract clause.
Adelaide defender Alex Keath toured Moorabbin this week but the Western Bulldogs are still considered the favourites to secure his services on a three or four-year deal.
It means Carlisle is a critical element of the club’s back six with questions over Dylan Roberton’s heart issues and key defenders Logan Austin and Oscar Clavarino still maturing.
“We have caught up with St Kilda and there are no issues whatsoever,” McConville said.
“They want him to go on next year and we are happy for him to play there next year.
“Outside of that we don’t know where the noise is coming from but we can’t stop that.
“His exit interview was very positive and we have agreed to visit things (with his contract) next year. That’s probably fair given his back injury this year. He has been an extremely resilient player.
“We will let the pre-season unfold and hopefully they will have a fit and healthy Jake Carlisle next year.”
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Carlisle finished fourth in the Saints best-and-fairest after returning from an ASADA ban and was sixth from 17 games last year, before only 10 games because of a back injury this year.
The Saints will aggressively target Sydney’s Zak Jones and are certain to land contracted Fremantle wingman Brad Hill.
GWS wingman Adam Tomlinson, shattered to be dropped after 53 consecutive games and with no warning from the Giants coaches this week, could also find himself at the Saints.
He has several suitors in Melbourne and ideally would like to stay at GWS but with the Giants cap tight he might be forced to accept security and a bigger salary at St Kilda or another Victorian club.
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Originally published as Jake Carlisle to stay at Saints as Brett Ratten plots future of St Kilda list
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