$1m exit may gift Saints two top-5 picks; Dons’ top target as Dusty move ‘done’ — Trade Whispers

St Kilda could cash in at the draft, thanks to the combination of their poor season and a free agency exit.

Plus Essendon’s top free agency target and claims Dusty’s future is “done, done, done”.

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$1M EXIT MAY GIFT SAINTS TWO TOP-5 PICKS

Hawthorn’s huge interest in St Kilda unrestricted free agent defender Josh Battle could hand the Moorabbin club two top-five picks at the draft.

Battle has gathered interest from the Hawks plus Melbourne and Collingwood, as one of the only free agents left on the market and a top defensive option, playing a position clubs are always hungry to find more talent in.

Amid reports the length of a contract will now be factored into the compensation given to clubs who lose free agents, if the bidding war continues for Battle, the Saints could get top-band, first-round compo for his exit.

They currently sit 15th on the ladder, equating to Pick 4 at the draft, which would then mean they land Pick 5 for free – in a similar scenario to North Melbourne letting Ben McKay walk last year to land picks 2 and 3.

“From a talent perspective, they’re a mess. They’re a long way behind every other club,” Herald Sun journalist Sam Landberger said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“Josh Battle has a long-term offer in front of him from Hawthorn, St Kilda should be crossing its fingers that he accepts that offer and take the compensation.

“They’re a real chance at getting Pick 4 and Pick 5 as a compensation pick for Josh Battle. They’re brought in arguably the best recruiter in the draft Simon Dalrymple, it’s a midfielder’s draft, they are crying out for midfielders, that is a dream scenario for them like Ben McKay leaving North Melbourne last year and them getting Pick 3.”

However his Herald Sun counterpart Jay Clark declared: “They need to get better, not worse.

“They take out Josh Battle, he’s one of their most important players, because what happens to the backline then? He could play for another eight years, he’s gonna get a six- or seven-year contract at St Kilda, they’re not gonna let him walk out the door.

“And to get that first-round compensation, the threshold’s gone up, the salary cap’s gone up – Ben McKay because he got the 850k (got a first-round pick) … it’s gonna take a million-dollar salary from Hawthorn. Hawthorn’s paying him a million dollars, are they?”

Landsberger responded: “I think you can replace Josh Battle. They need midfield talent.

“What if they factor in the longevity of the deal? There’s talk the AFL could change the compensation rules, if they factor in a six or seven-year deal and the longevity they are a real chance to get Pick 5, and they should take that and run.”

The Saints have made just one top-10 pick in the last five drafts, Mattaes Phillipou at No.10 in 2022, and have had not had multiple top-10 picks since 2017 when they nabbed Hunter Clark (No.7) and Nick Coffield (No.8).

BOMBERS’ TOP TARGET – BUT CAN THEY GET HIM?

Essendon has focused its trade period plans on landing Gold Coast restricted free agent Ben Ainsworth.

Amid interest from Port Adelaide, along with the Suns themselves, Ainsworth has a decision to make but would perfectly suit the Bombers according to the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark.

“They are going hard at Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth, who’s a very clever and classy goalkicker up there at the Suns,” he said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“Essendon has canvassed their very strong interest and you’ve seen at Essendon over the past month or two or three this season, they have struggled at times to hit the scoreboard. They need a boost in the forward half and someone like Ben Ainsworth who, and no disrespect to Matt Guelfi, is probably an upgrade on Guelfi, they’re all in for him.

“Last year they were free agency masters, it was a masterstroke getting McKay, Goldstein and Gresham, now potentially Ainsworth. The only problem is the latest sort of mail is he may be leaning towards staying rather than moving, so digging his heels in, it’s gonna be interesting to watch over the next eight weeks.

Clark’s Herald Sun colleague Sam Landsberger asked: “If you’re Ben, why would you leave? And you’ve probably never said that about the Suns before.

“But that makes so much sense for Essendon, with Tyson Stengle re-signing, he should be priority No.1. He’s not Tyson Stengle but you can’t get him now. Forward pressure’s a problem for them, Jake Stringer’s in his 30s now, it’s a similar type of undersized power forward type of player.

“He’d be a great fit there but I’d be staying at the Suns.”

DUSTY DEAL ‘DONE, DONE, DONE’ CLAIMS DEES CHAMP

The Herald Sun’s Scott Gullan is fully buying Melbourne champion David Schwarz’ claim Dustin Martin is locked into a move to Gold Coast for 2025.

Schwarz has claimed publicly this week the triple Norm Smith medallist will reunite with old Tigers coach Damien Hardwick on the glitter strip, even suggesting Martin “will play the majority of home games and travelling might not be a big option for him”.

Gullan relayed his chat with Schwarz on Monday on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“On Monday, 13th Beach Golf Course down at Barwon Heads, beautiful day, playing with a few playing partners and David Schwarz, the Ox, who smacks it just quietly,” he said.

“We were having a quiet drink after it, reminiscing on the round, and he said ‘Scotty, I swear on my kids, family, this is not a 99 percent this is 100 percent, emphatic (he’s going)’.

“The Ox knows people in the industry, he has gone hard on a few things, he said Dustin Martin, two-year deal at Gold Coast, done done done. Heard it through Richmond player, Richmond boss, he had all these details.

“I’m just sitting here going, hello! He’s then gone public as he does, he works in the media, but he was adamant.

“I coughed on my sip of my beer and went, well, it makes sense!”

Martin is out of contract at the end of the season with others speculating the 300-gamer will retire given his lack of form in 2024 and his interest in remaining a one-club player.