It would have to take “something spectacular’’ to trade pick 4, says St Kilda’s James Gallagher
ST KILDA has vowed to play hard ball over its prized No. 4 draft pick, telling Adelaide and Port Adelaide that it would have to take “something spectacular’’ to part with the selection.
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ST KILDA has vowed to play hard ball over its prized No. 4 draft pick, telling Adelaide and Port Adelaide that it would have to take “something spectacular’’ to part with the selection.
The Saints have admitted that they have had “preliminary discussions’’ with the Crows and Power about the pick as the two SA clubs try to move up the draft board to get their hands on prized Croweaters Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine and Connor Rozee.
But new St Kilda list manager James Gallagher said “there’s a discernible difference between picks 4 and 5 and picks 6 and 7 in this year’s draft’’.
“It would have to be something spectacular for us to trade away that pick,’’ he said.
Port currently has selections 5, 10 and 15 and is considering putting a package together to move up the draft.
Adelaide has picks 8, 13, 16 and 21 and also is looking at trading for a higher pick.
The two clubs also are speaking to Gold Coast about its first three selections — 2, 3 and 6.
“The Crows and Power have flagged an interest in our pick 4 and we’ve had informal, preliminary discussions about it,’’ Gallagher, a former Adelaide player, told FIVEaa.
“We wouldn’t give away pick 4 if our first pick in return was then 8. Right now our preference is to use pick 4.
“There’s plenty of talent in this draft but those first four or five picks are different (in quality) and our intention is to go to the draft with pick 4 and use that at the draft.
“With live trading coming in this year there’s every chance there will be some interest in the pick on the (draft) night and we might get offers for it.
“But it would need to be something pretty spectacular for us to consider trading it because of the players we expect to be available at 4.’’
The battle to have the highest selection in the draft between Port and Adelaide is hot.
Suns list manager Craig Cameron last week said his club “like those two picks and the players that will be there’’.
“But we’ll listen to offers,’’ he said.
“I’m sure they (the Crows) will knock on our door and I’m sure the boys down the road at Port will too.’’
Both SA clubs could also take a look at classy goalsneak Daniel Menzel, who on Wednesday was shockingly delisted by Geelong.
The 27-year-old South Australian, who had recovered from four knee reconstructions to play 73 games and kick 136 goals for the Cats, was cut after managing just 13 games this year when he struggled to overcome a reaction to an injection for a groin injury.
Long-kicking wingman/half-forward Jordan Murdoch, also from SA, also was delisted by Geelong after 108 games and 73 goals.
The 26-year-old played 16 games this year.
The Power, in particular, could look at signing Menzel as a delisted free agent after trading classy forward Chad Wingard to Hawthorn.
andrew.capel@news.com.au
Originally published as It would have to take “something spectacular’’ to trade pick 4, says St Kilda’s James Gallagher
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