Jade Gresham set for lucrative contract at St Kilda

St Kilda’s Jade Gresham is moving towards a contract extension that could see him secure a significant pay rise but teammate Jack Billings has delayed talks with the club.

St Kilda’s Jade Gresham is moving towards a contract extension that could see him secure a significant pay rise.

Known as a clever goalsneak Gresham, 21, spent more time in the midfield last year and finished fourth in the club’s best-and-fairest.

He has missed just four games in his three years, kicking 30 and 35 goals in his past two seasons.

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It is believed Gresham and his management were keen to assess the club’s changes over the off-season — a revamp of the club’s personnel and the acquisition of Dan Hannebery — before sitting down to discuss a new deal.

At 21, commentators are already labelling him one of the Saints most important players.

St Kilda is also keen to finalise contracts with its fleet of younger players, including Ben Long, Rowan Marshall, Gresham and Jack Billings.

Jade Gresham finished in the Saints’ best-and-fairest last year. Picture: Michael Klein

Nathan Brown, Shane Savage, Jack Sinclair, Jack Newnes, Luke Dunstan, David Armitage and Billy Longer also fall out of contract this year.

It is believed teammate Jack Billings, 23, wants to realise his potential as a goalkicking midfielder before entering contract extension talks.

It is understood he wants to stay at St Kilda but can maximise his contract value with a standout season.

Out of contract Jack Billings is aiming to have a big season. Picture: AAP

Billings finished ninth in the club’s best-and-fairest last year.

He won 20 or more possessions in 16 of his 21 games but kicked 14.19 from 40 shots, including seven that missed altogether.

Billings was demoted to the VFL in June after a quiet game against West Coast but responded with 53 possessions and three goals.

“We think this will be a moment that Jack looks back on in his career and probably would rather it didn’t happen, but it’s been potentially a circuit-breaker to just get him back into form,’’ coach Alan Richardson said.