St Kilda's Hayes on Marshall, Tauru, Lobb, Phillipou & more

St Kilda Head of Football Lenny Hayes has provided an update on several key players and storylines as the club prepares for another busy Trade Period.

The Saints were one of the competition’s most active clubs last off-season, signing Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni as free agents while luring midfielder Sam Flanders and livewire forward Liam Ryan to Moorabbin via trades. They also re-signed superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera on a bumper short-term deal.

And the Saints are again shaping as major players this off-season.

From facilitating ruckman Rowan Marshall’s trade request to trying to secure young premiership Lion Sam Marshall, as well as locking away the long-term futures of Wanganeen-Milera and Max Hall, Hayes provided several key updates when he joined Riley Beveridge and Callum Twomey on Gettable on Trade Radio.

On Sam Marshall’s commitment:

“He's someone that we've tracked over a period of time,” Hayes said.

“A talented underage player played some good footy in his first year, and (for him) to play in a Grand Final in his first year was a fair effort.

“He's probably struggled to get in the team this year, but he's someone that we think can add to our young midfield core that we're building.”

On discussions with the Cats for a Rowan Marshall trade:

“Those discussions are ongoing. So it's something that will play out over the next period.

“Rowan has indicated to us that he'd like to get to Geelong, and I think obviously we're hoping that a deal can get done there and hoping that a deal that obviously works for us.

“Those conversations are ongoing, but it’s going to take a little bit to get to a point where we’re satisfied as a football club because of how highly we rate Rowan.”

On obtaining Lawson Humpries as part of a Marshall trade:

"That doesn't look likely at this point."

On Alix Tauru’s future:

“Player movement has changed a fair bit since I retired but probably raised a few eyebrows just when that news initially broke.

“There's been some really good conversations with Alix, not only from myself, but also Ross Lyon, where we've actually sat down and asked him, Is he happy at the club? He indicated that he is really happy at the Saints and wants to stay here, and we're really keen to keep him as well.

“He's a young developing player. He's an outstanding young man, and we're really excited about what he can do in the future. So I think once you get through all the noise of what took place and what happened, and you get to the facts of it, they were really good conversations between myself and Alix and also Ross and Alix, and we're really happy to move on.

On his reaction to Tauru touring Gold Coast’s facilities:

“Probably a little bit surprised is fair to say. And for us around that period, I was gathering the information around what was there and then just having the conversation with Alix just to find out from his point of view. Is he happy at the club? And he's indicated that he is, that he is really happy at the club.

“He's obviously keen to have a really good preseason, and I think those conversations we will continue to have with his group once we get through trade period.”

On reported interest in Rory Lobb:

“His name has been mentioned, and there was some talk that we've put a three-year contract to Rory. I can say that isn't the case. And that's probably looking less likely than likely.”

On Mattaes Phillipou:

“Mattaes is a really valuable player for us. I spoke before about that sort of young core group that was brought in over the last four years. We've gone to the draft and then adding a little bit of experience last year, but he's been part of our future as a contracted player.

“So that was news to us and even to the point where our list management crew reached out to his management yesterday and said that that certainly isn't coming from us.

“We're really comfortable with Mattaes. We think he's got a really bright future at the footy club. It's going to be a massive 2027 for him.”

On when conversations will start for a new deals for Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Max Hall:

“I think once we get through this next period. There's no doubt that Nas and then probably Max Hall will be priorities. for us going forward.

“There's no sort of timeline on that just yet, but I doubt our guys will reach out at the right time.

“I think every club is probably conscious of their (The Devils) looming in the background a little bit, but I think what you've got to do as a football club is... create a really good environment where your players are comfortable, and they see a bright future at the football club, and they see their football developing.”

On the remaining uncontracted players at the Saints:

“There’s a contract in front of Ryan Byrnes, and I can confirm today that Dan Butler has agreed to an extension for next year.

“Jack Carroll is the one who will have to wait and see on list spots once we get through trade and the draft.”

On replacing Corey Enright on the coaching panel for next season:

“That’s something we’re looking at at the moment. Whether we replace that role directly or go down a different track.

“We probably will be keen to bring someone in, but what part of the coaching area we’re still determining at the moment.”

On the excitement Category B signing Kobe McDonald has generated:

“It’s pretty special for us as a footy club.

“It’s a market that we as a footy club have invested really heavily in, and he (Kobe) looks like being a pretty special player.

“We’ve got high hopes for him; we should limit the expectations on him early. He has to learn a whole new game, but he’s a pretty driven young man and we're excited for what he can do in the future.”