Tim Membrey nominates St Kilda as his preferred club for season 2015 and beyond

ST KILDA will look to do a trade for Swans medium forward Tim Membrey, after he requested a trade from Sydney to Seaford.

Sydney Swans' Tim Membrey handballs during AFL match Sydney Swans v Essendon at the SCG. pic. Phil Hillyard

ST KILDA will look to do a trade for Swans medium forward Tim Membrey, after he requested a trade from Sydney to Seaford.

The Saints have also met with Greater Western Sydney pair Jono O’Rourke and Kristian Jaksch about a potential switch, and confirmed other clubs had given them “food for thought’’ about a trade for pick one, although nothing compelling.

The Saints intend to keep separate any potential trade with the Giants and any offers for the No. 1 draft pick.

St Kilda’s chief operating officer Ameet Bains the Saints “were rapt to learn today that Tim Membrey had committed to us as a club’’.

Bains said they had not spoken specifics with Sydney, but “certainly have got an indication’’ that the Saints’ existing draft picks could get a deal done.

“He’s a player that we liked a lot during his draft year (2012) and came very close to drafting,’’ Bains told AFL Trade Radio.

The Saints had closely tracked the 189-centimetre 20-year-old, who is originally from Traralgon, knowing he had struggled for opportunities in a Swans forward line that includes Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes and Sam Reid.

Membrey has played just one match for the Swans — the Round 19 game against Essendon at the SCG — and told Swans officials last week he wanted to return to Victoria, with the Western Bulldogs and Essendon among the other clubs linked to him.

St Kilda has no interest in trading midfielder David Armitage. Picture: Michael Klein

Bains also said the next 24 to 48 hours would provide more clarity about the futures of O’Rourke, who is also being pursued by Hawthorn, and Jaksch, whose preferred destination is Carlton.

“Kristian has indicated a slightly stronger preference to go to Carlton at this stage,’’ Bains said, “but what we’ve had fed back to us at this stage is that it doesn’t mean we’re out of the race.’’

Bains also ruled out any interest in veteran Brisbane defender Daniel Merrett — “he’s not in our demographic and age group’’ – and said the Saints were not interested in trading 26-year-old midfielder David Armitage, who has two years to run on his contract and was “the perfect player to take our midfield group forward’’.

Matt Bain, who manages Membrey and Jaksch at Stride Management, said Sydney had indicated they would not stand in Membrey’s way. “They are happy to facilitate a trade for him,’’ he said.

“Kristian (Jaksch) has probably got a slight preference to go to Carlton at the moment. (But) Carlton needs to do a fair amount of work over the next period in time to get a trade done with GWS. If that doesn’t work out, he’s happy to look at St Kilda.’’

Membrey is a powerfully built goalkicker with a penetrating and accurate kick. He spent time played in the midfield with the Swans’ NEAFL team this season in an effort to improve his endurance.

O’Rourke, a 20-year-old from Gisborne, was taken at No. 2 in the 2012 national draft and has played nine games for the Giants, while Jaksch is a key defender who has managed seven matches over the past two seasons.