St Kilda has emerged as a club "keeping tabs" on off-contract Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders, who has proven his value as an elite ball winner in recent weeks under interim coach Steven King.
Flanders has reached new heights since King took the reins from former senior coach Stuart Dew last month, seeing his average for disposals rise from 18.29 in his seven matches before Dew's sacking to 30.75 touches per outing under King.
King has utilised Flanders through the midfield more than ever, seeing the former first-round pick work closely with fellow 2019 draftees Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson at centre bounces.
The rise from Flanders has also come at a time when the 22-year-old faces an uncertain future at Carrara, with no contract signed for the 2024 season.
Flanders was already noted to be on the radar of rival clubs prior to Dew's departure, with more clubs now potentially circling his services after seeing more of his potential in recent weeks.
Among the clubs eyeing the Moe junior is St Kilda, according to AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, who has flagged the Moorabbin club as a side expressing some level of interest in Flanders' signature.
Speaking on theย Tradies Podcast,ย Cleary said the Saints are keeping tabs on Flanders, who will still has a call to make on his future as the Suns search for a new mentor - with former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick expected to land the job.
"Sam Flanders has gone bang. One club to keep an eye on in this spot who are keeping tabs on him is St Kilda, who need a burst midfielder," Cleary said.
"I think he would complement their midfield beautifully with (Jack) Steele, (Seb) Ross and (Brad) Crouch, who are all more in-and-under ball winners.
"Flanders is a bit more of that burst (midfielder), can go half-forward.
"But after saying all that, he's still a chance to stay at the Suns, given how he's found his form and with 'Dimma' (Damien Hardwick) on the way. I think he's still a chance (to re-sign).
"He's one to keep an eye on in the next month to see if he remains unsigned at the end of the season. Could clubs in Victoria come calling?"
Flanders' first game under King's watch came against the Saints, with the Gold Coast onballer amassing a career-high 33 disposals to go with eight inside 50s and five clearances in the upset win.
The emerging midfielder is among a suite of Suns players off-contract in 2023, with Brayden Fiorini, Alex Sexton, Jeremy Sharp, Brodie McLaughlin and Levi Casboult, among others, still unsigned for 2024.
Flanders has played 41 games for the Suns since being taken as the 11th overall pick in the 2019 count, with 11 games coming so far this season.
