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St Kilda say rumours there will be a mass exodus of senior players during the AFL’s upcoming trade and free agency periods are completely unfounded.
While veteran midfielder Nick Dal Santo has been linked to North Melbourne and Essendon, Saints head of football Chris Pelchen says there’s no certainty he’s going anywhere.
“There’s every likelihood Nick will still be with us next year,” Pelchen told reporters on Wednesday.
He said there was “no chance” captain Nick Riewoldt would be leaving the club and said suggestions Leigh Montagna is looking for a new club are also off the mark.
“We’ve had conversations with Joey (Montagna) just in the last 24 hours and there’s no indication from Joey that he wants to leave our club at all,” Pelchen said.
“He’s still contracted for next year and I’m not quite sure where that rumour started to be honest.”
Pelchen said the Saints, 16th this season, were looking to rebuild with young players.
“But to talk about those senior players leaving the club en masse would be totally incorrect,” he said.
But Carlton recruiting manager Shane Rogers expects player movement in both directions at his club.
The Blues have confirmed they are confident of recruiting Collingwood free agent Dale Thomas.
“We’re waiting to hear back from his manager to see what Dale’s thinking, but we’re quietly confident that we might be able to do something there,” Rogers told AFL Trade Radio.
Carlton’s own free agent, small forward Eddie Betts, is likely to end up at Adelaide or North Melbourne.
Rogers said both of those clubs are believed to have offered Betts more than the Blues are willing to match, although he said Carlton hadn’t been officially informed of that.
“I think both of those offers, and it’s only rumour, are much more than what we’ve offered and for longer terms,” he said.
“So that’s probably where he’s at at the moment, he’s trying to shore up his long-term future.”
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