AFL trade news: Saints eyeing rival rucks

Could these out-of-favour ruckmen find a new home at Moorabbin?

SUBSCRIBER | October 5, 2021 - 11:27am

St Kilda are reportedly looking close to home as they seek an off-season ruck acquisition to assist Rowan Marshall and veteran Paddy Ryder next season.

After initially being linked with Port Adelaide's Peter Ladhams, the Saints are also reportedly interested in Kangaroo Tristan Xerri and Bulldog Jordon Sweet.

Ladhams, who is reportedly eyeing the number one ruck spot at a rival club, is now strongly linked to Sydney and Hawthorn, who made a play for the 23-year-old last year.

Xerri, who is contracted to North Melbourne, has played 12 games for the club since his debut in 2020 but has been dominant at VFL level, earning him an AFL recall in Round 13 of 2021, leading to a run of eight games in the second half of the season.

The ruck/forward picked up 35 disposals in a VFL match against Essendon earlier this season, but has struggled to have the same impact in the AFL, finishing the year with a season high 11 disposals against the Suns in Round 15.

Sweet, a 2021 debutant, has attracted interest from rival clubs as he looks to explore his options despite the 23-year-old reportedly being offered a new deal to remain at the Kennel.

West Coast are understood to have shown interest in the fringe ruckman, yet the Bulldogs seem keen to retain the former SANFL premiership player.

Pick 23 in the 2018 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, Sweet played five games for the Bulldogs in 2021, but has featured in the Footscray VFL side consistently since 2019.

The Saints, who recently delisted untried ruckman Sam Alabakis, are seeking to boost their ruck stocks after an injury disrupted season for both Marshall and Ryder, per The Herald Sun.

33-year-old Ryder signed a one-year contract extension with the club last month, after managing 12 games in 2021.

Marshall, the Saints' long-term ruck prospect, bested his mentor by just one game, playing 13 for the season. The influential ruck duo played just seven games together in 2021, leaving the Saints undermanned in the centre.

Paul Hunter, who joined the club in the pre-season via the Supplemental Selection Period, found himself filling the number one ruck spot upon his Round 1 debut, playing seven games for the season.

Hunter remains without a contract for 2022.