St Kilda pulls out of Todd Goldstein race, set to target Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder

St Kilda’s long-held interest in Todd Goldstein has cooled, with another ruckman in the club’s sights. Meanwhile, a Carlton tall is set to earn another deal and a Port Adelaide midfielder is likely on the move. MONEYBALL

St Kilda will zero in on Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder after pulling out of the race to poach North Melbourne big man Todd Goldstein.

Goldstein is now expected to stay at Arden St unless a club such as Geelong or Greater Western Sydney comes from the clouds late for the Kangaroos’ veteran.

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North Melbourne has increased its offer to Goldstein to include two years and a trigger clause for a third-year to help keep the 31-year-old at the club.

Goldstein’s agent Tom Petroro, from TLA-Stride Sports, is working on finalising an agreement.

St Kilda was hot on Goldstein earlier in the season, but the Saints’ interest has significantly cooled in recent times as the club looks for another tall.

St Kilda has selectively targeted another big man who can better help support gun tall Rowan Marshall in a forward-ruck role.

Whereas Goldstein was better suited to a No. 1 ruck job, the Saints have their targets set on finding a mobile big man who can play forward and ruck in tandem with Marshall.

Marshall, 23, is expected to win the club’s best and fairest and lead the ruck division under a new coach next season.

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Ryder, who is searching for two-years on his next contract, will weigh up whether to leave Port Adelaide, for either St Kilda, Essendon or GWS.

The Power are only prepared to offer Ryder a one-year deal, at this stage, potentially paving way for another move interstate to continue his football career.

Port has a wealth of ruckmen including Scott Lycett, Ryder, re-signed youngster Peter Ladhams and Sam Hayes.

Essendon is also looking at its ruck options and could make a play to bring Ryder back to the club which he left because of the drugs saga at the end of 2014.

St Kilda will target Paddy Ryder after its interest cooled in Todd Goldstein. Picture: Michael Klein.

Levi Casboult will finally tick off a games-based clause against Geelong this week that guarantees his spot on Carlton’s list next year.

But the star swingman is keen to solidify his future past 2020 and is keen to negotiate a contract extension given his stunning form this year.

Casboult was thrown into defence at the last minute when Jacob Weitering pulled up sore last week and responded with nine intercept marks _ one short of the AFL record.

He will play his 30th game against the Cats since signing an extension at the end of 2017, which hands him an automatic contractor 2020.

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His manager Anthony McConville confirmed the clash against the Cats was the game which would hand him certainty after several years of trade speculation.

Casboult is the only player this year to play at least 20 per cent of game time forward, back and in the ruck, having kicked 15.11 form his limited time forward.

McConville’s St Kilda client Jake Carlisle will remain at St Kilda after ticking off his own games-based clause in recent weeks.

Amid speculation other clubs might be interested in the key position defender, McConville said he was certain to remain with the Saints.

Carlisle told the Herald Sun last week he had chosen St Kilda above all clubs when he moved from Essendon and saw them as a club with a big upside despite missing finals under Alan Richardson.

Levi Casboult has triggered a clause in his contract to earn another deal at Carlton. Picture: Michael Klein

Karl Amon is poised to attempt another move to a Victorian-based club, 12 months after he tried and failed to get out of Port Adelaide.

Amon, 24, has been presented with a respectable contract offer by the Power, but has so far held off putting pen to paper as he weighs up his future.

The midfielder requested a trade home last year after managing only six senior games, but was made to stay and play out the final year of his deal after nothing materialised.

But despite a career-best year with the Power, Amon still appears set to engineer a move to a new club.

It comes after Power coach Ken Hinkley expressed his confidence Amon would re-sign.