Hawthorn have announced that defender Kyle Hartigan will depart the club after not being offered a new deal.
Hartigan joined the Hawks from Adelaide at the start of last season. He played 22 games for Hawthorn, bringing his overall tally to 135 AFL appearances.
He managed just the three games in 2022 between Rounds 10 and 13 with coach Sam Mitchell favouring youthful pair Denver Grainger-Barras and Jack Scrimshaw as well as the returning James Sicily.
Hawthorn National Recruiting and List Manager Mark McKenzie paid tribute to the 30-year-old for his services during his brief stint at Waverley Park.
“Kyle has been a great leader and competitor during his time at the club, and has had a strong influence on our group both on and off the field,” McKenzie said.
“We thank Kyle for his service, and we wish him and his family all the best in his future endeavours.”
St Kilda have been linked with a move for Hartigan throughout the week, keen to add to their key defensive stocks this off-season.
RSN's Mark Stevens reported that the Saints have an interest in Hartigan, with a potential two-year deal on offer for the rookie draft selection.
"He's 30 years old, hasn't got a deal (for 2023) at Hawthorn... St Kilda I believe are interested, perhaps a two-year deal, for Hartigan," Stevens told Breakfast Club.
"They're looking to beef up their key defensive stocks.
"He's a free agent so I'd say he'd be at another club next year. If that's the case [he] could be down at Moorabbin.
"I think he's run his race at Hawthorn. (Sam) Mitchell has had plenty of chances to play him. So watch this space there."
Having been spared in the first round of list culls made by the Hawks that included Tom Phillips, Daniel Howe, Jackson Callow and Connor Downie, Hartigan's departure comes only a day after the link between he and the Saints emerged.
The Saints defensive stocks were exposed on a few occasions in 2022 with Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie and Josh Battle often going into their respective battles undersized.
Recycled players aren't a foreign concept to St Kilda with their list currently holding 11 players who were originally drafted by other clubs. That number is reduced from what they carried through this past season with the retirements of Paddy Ryder, Dean Kent and Dan Hannebery.
Hartigan is now available for the Saints as a delisted free agent should they opt to bring him to Moorabbin.