Trade buzz: St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall addresses shock trade rumours

St Kilda has spoken to Rowan Marshall after rumours began circulating that he could make a shock departure from the club. JAY CLARK has the latest on he’s staying or going.

St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall has reassured the club he has no intention of leaving as part of a shock trade move.

Marshall, 28, was reported to be considering his future at the club which prompted the star big man to set the record straight with senior officials this week.

The big man, who is contracted until the end of 2027 at Moorabbin, told the club he was surprised by the trade link and was adamant he was not interested in a move.

The ruckman is one of the club’s most important and highest-paid players after signing a five-year contract extension in 2022.

He finished third in the best-and-fairest last year once again showcasing his durability playing 24 matches after finishing runner-up in 2019.

The trade speculation shut down will come as a welcome news to Saints fans this week as the club prepares to take on Port Adelaide which has been stung by last weekend’s thrashing from Brisbane Lions and pressure on its coach Ken Hinkley.

Rowan Marshall has told the Saints he intends to stay. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Power have enjoyed a remarkable stranglehold on the Saints dating back to 2011, winning 13 of their last 14 games over St Kilda.

But the Saints have fallen only marginally short in their past four games, losing each by 13 points or less.

The Saints have locked in Marshall, Max King, Callum Wilkie and Jack Sinclair to long-term contract extensions and will aggressively hit the free agency market over the next two years to secure some more goal kicking polish, big-bodied midfielders and a prime key defender.

Geelong livewire Tyson Stengle is weighing up offers from the Cats and Saints and would be able to move for nothing at season’s end as a free agent.

But the Saints are expected to make bigger moves at the end of next year when they will target some prime on-ballers such as North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke who is expected to field offers from multiple clubs worth more than $15 million over 10 years.

Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw is also a free agent next year, and has been leapfrogged in the midfield mix by superstar teammates Caleb Serong and Hayden Young.

The Saints are eager to secure at least one more powerful ballwinner to help spearhead their midfield brigade as part of a push up the ladder.

Marshall is considered a key plank in the club’s list build and could still have his best football ahead of him at the Saints with Melbourne’s Max Gawn, aged 32, in the midst of one of one of his best season’s as the club’s lead ruckman.

The Saints will target top-end talent at this year’s draft and currently hold pick five.

Originally published as Trade buzz: St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall addresses shock trade rumours