Saints trade target to face “agonising” wait with Dogs yet to begin negotiations

Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae faces an agonising wait to see if his trade request to St Kilda is granted this trade period according to AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich.

Macrae requested a trade one month ago and is hoping to move to the Saints this off-season despite having three years to run on his deal.

Dogs list boss Sam Power has already said it’ll need to be a suitable offer from St Kilda for the club to let Macrae leave and Gabelich revealed that the clubs are yet to even begin negotiations over what that deal could look like.

“It was a month ago yesterday that he requested a trade,” Gabelich told AFL Trade Radio.

“But it has been slow going so far. Sam Power and Steve Silvagni are yet to have one conversation about Jack Macrae. 

“Now there is still enough time, it is Thursday and clearly, the deadline's not until next Wednesday night.

“But this feels like a deadline day move, which would be agonising if you are the player.”

As well as his status as a three-time All-Australian, Gabelich thinks that the complicating factor in the deal is clearly the length of his contract.

He expects the Dogs to target St Kilda’s pick No. 27 in return for the 30-year-old, a selection he can’t see the Saints giving up. 

“I think the complicating factor here is he's got three years to run on a really lucrative contract,” Gabelich said.

“With St Kilda, we know they’ve got pick 27 and 47. Clearly, the Western Bulldogs are going to want that pick 27 but I can’t see St Kilda parting with that for a player that’s 30.

“Does 47 get it done? Is there a conversation about who pays what? I think that'll be part of the negotiation as well, but right now there's not a lot of movement.”

Gabelich also added that a new member of St Kilda’s list management team, Simon Dalrymple, is the main person pushing for the move given his links to Macrae as the Western Bulldogs’ former recruiting manager.

“One thing that I did learn is that Simon Dalrymple, who is a new part new member of St Kilda's list management team, he's the one that is driving this recruitment,” Gabelich said.

“He’s big on Jack Macrae. He's the one that recruited him at pick six back in 2012 when he was at the Western Bulldogs, and Simon Dalrymple was a key part of that 2016 premiership.

“I think Jack Macrae will get there in the end. But I hope we don't have a situation like Ryan O'Keefe in 2008 or Bryce Gibbs in 2016, where you are contracted for three years, you request a trade and you’ve got to go back to the club you wanted to get out of.

“It can be a dangerous game to play.”

Macrae played 19 games in 2024 as he fell somewhat out of favour with Dogs coach Luke Beveridge. He was the activated substitute in four of those games.