AFL
4 months ago
Why Saints should consider trading Steele and the three rival clubs that would suit him
By SEN
Former Geelong and Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins thinks St Kilda should have the courage to trade Jack Steele if the right offer is tabled.
While Steele is contracted until the end of the 2027 season and is captain of the club, Tom Morris reported that the Saints were ‘open to a conversation’ around a potential trade for the 28-year-old last off-season.
Although no move eventuated, Morris pondered whether clubs might try and prise him out of Moorabbin this off-season even though there’s no indication that the Saints want to trade him or that he wants out.
Jenkins is one who believes that the two-time All-Australian could perhaps be ‘overvalued’ by rival clubs, leading to a big haul coming back St Kilda’s way if he were to be traded.
He also thinks that the Saints could afford to let their skipper go if a good trade was offered as they already possess big-bodied inside midfielders.
“Having the courage to trade Jack Steele matters,” Jenkins told SEN The Run Home.
“Trading the captain doesn’t happen very often, but having the courage to trade him matters because I think he is similar to what they've already got.
“I think he would be - I'll say overvalued - by some outside the four walls of St Kilda.
“He's one of those players who I think there will be clubs around who will think, ‘He can transform their midfield group. We need someone who's tenacious and inspirational’.
“He plays that way where people think he's inspirational, he's courageous and he’s tough.”
In response to Jenkins’ take, his co-host Julian De Stoop asked which clubs the two-time best and fairest winner would suit.
Jenkins named the Crows and Cats due to their need for an inside midfielder while De Stoop thinks Collingwood would love to bring in a player like Steele to bolster their midfield and help Nick Daicos.
De Stoop: “Give me a club he’d suit...”
Jenkins: “Adelaide. He’s tough and big (and what they need).”
De Stoop: “What about Jack Steele to Collingwood?”
Jenkins: “What about Jack Steele to the Cats? He’d suit the Cats.”
The 177-gamer is averaging 24.5 disposals, 7.4 tackles and 5.2 clearances a game in 2024 and most recently kicked an equal career-high three goals in the Round 20 win over Essendon.
