“Unbelievable”: Saints great fumes as club pulls out of key trade race

St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt has smashed his old club for reportedly pulling out of the race for Gold Coast defender Jack Bowes.

The Suns are reportedly keen to offload the former top 10 pick as part of a salary dump trade, that could include the seventh pick in the draft as well.

It presents an opportunity for a club to take on a high pedigree player, despite his hefty salary, and grab a valuable draft selection.

AFL Media reported last week that Hawthorn, St Kilda, Geelong and Essendon were four teams keen on the trade package.

However, a Fox Footy report overnight indicates the Saints have opted out of discussions with Gold Coast about Bowes.

Riewoldt was not pleased upon hearing the news.

“Why would you not be (keen on the trade)?” Riewoldt told Fox Footy.

“If you are a club that is desperate for picks and to bring young talent in and you’re not in the window anyway, why would you not entertain that?”

When it was explained that Bowes was reportedly on $1.1 million total over the next two years, Riewoldt scoffed at it being an issue.

“Please. With some of the blokes they’ve paid? Unbelievable,” Riewoldt added.

St Kilda holds the ninth pick in the draft after missing finals in 2022 and has expressed an interest in Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey.

Jack Bowes owed $850k next year by virtue of pushing money down the road at Suns. Geel is very interested, but there is a queue. Cats have more retirements to come & were into Hopper & Grundy. Would they pay up &/or spread Bowes contract for pick 7? They do want a high draft pick

— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) September 26, 2022