An unlucky Saint is reportedly being eyed by a rival Victorian club in the lead-up to this year's trade period.
St Kilda, whose 2023 campaign was culled by the Giants at the MCG in week one of the finals, has shifted its focus to its list management operation as we approach the off-season player movement window.
While restricted free agent Jade Gresham's situation has captured most Saints fans' attention, there's another off-contract commodity who may be pondering a Moorabbin departure this October.
Versatile defender Nicholas Coffield, who has been significantly hindered by injury since debuting in 2018, is reportedly receiving interest from a Victoria rival.
According to a Wednesday Herald Sun report, Coffield has 'attracted interest' from the Western Bulldogs over the course of this year, as he remains without a St Kilda contract for the 2024 season.
Coffield promisingly strung together a consistent period of play during 2020's COVID-impacted campaign, playing in almost all of St Kilda's outings as the Saints mounted a finals push, and followed up that encouraging progress with another 16 senior games in 2021.
However, Round 23, 2021 represents the most recent AFL game Coffield has partaken in after suffering an ACL rupture last pre-season, causing the dashing defender to miss the entirety of the 2022 season.
While the devastation of his knee reconstruction has been put in the rearview, Coffield has most recently been plagued by a calf issue that ignited in the pre-season.
As Coffield is likely to ponder his Saints future, St Kilda will continue to consider a decision regarding Gresham, with the Herald Sun adding that the Moorabbin club is 'prepared' to match an offer sheet for the forward-midfielder hybrid, depending on the deal's dollar amount and the compensation it could trigger for the Saints.
Essendon appears the most likely rival club to table an offer to Gresham, following an understanding that the once-interested Blues have apparently cooled their interest.
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This year's free agency period commences on October 6, while the exchange window opens on October 9.