Traded Sam Flanders [Traded to St Kilda for Pick #7]

[Amos Frank]

 

[Veer Right]

SEN - Trade talk: Saints confident they can acquire contracted Sun​

St Kilda is confident it can prise Sam Flanders out of Gold Coast as the full extent of its trade shopping list becomes clearer.
The Saints are spreading the word that they will acquire Flanders in the exchange window after making contact with Gold Coast about a trade in the middle of the year.

But the relationship between the two clubs is far from rosy given St Kilda coach Ross Lyon slammed the Suns as the “AFL’s nepo baby” and president Andrew Bassat’s relentless attack on northern academies.
And Gold Coast is steaming over the Flanders whisper campaign on the eve of a highly-likely finals debut in which Flanders will feature.
Flanders, 24, has two years to run on a Suns contract having signed a four-year deal in 2023.
The Victorian had one foot out the door before Stuart Dew

Stuart Dew

Age

46

Ht

183cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.1

3star

K

9.1

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

1.8

4star

was replaced by Damien Hardwick in late 2023.
Under Hardwick, Flanders shone in 2024 across half-back and finished third in the best and fairest.
But the arrival of John Noble

2

John Noble

Age

29

Ht

180cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.3

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.1

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

186.1

3star

D

14.2

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.8

3star

MG

149.7

3star

D

18.8

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

MG

229.8

4star

and Dan Rioli – and the midfield strength of Noak Anderson, Matt Rowell

18

Matt Rowell

Age

24

Ht

180cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

D

17.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

D

17.4

5star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

and Touk Miller

11

Touk Miller

Age

30

Ht

178cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.7

5star

K

9.5

4star

HB

12.3

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

5.4

5star

CL

4.2

5star

D

22.0

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

10.6

5star

M

2.9

3star

T

4.8

5star

CL

4.1

5star

D

17.8

5star

K

5.8

3star

HB

12.0

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.0

5star

– has seen him play half-forward in 2025. He was the starting sub against Port Adelaide last weekend.
Hardwick in June said Flanders wouldn’t be going anywhere at season's end.
“He ain’t going anywhere,” Hardwick said.

"We're not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won't be going anywhere.
"I've got a real soft spot for Sam, he's one of my favourites.”
St Kilda stands to be one of the most active clubs in the exchange window. Tom De Koning

21

Tom De Koning

Age

26

Ht

201cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

2star

HO

1.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

1.5

5star

, Leek Aleer and Liam Ryan

31

Liam Ryan

Age

29

Ht

181cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.3

5star

D

9.9

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.6

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

are among those also poised to arrive at Moorabbin after the club struck a $4 million, two-year agreement with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

 

[Lore]

SEN - Trade talk: Saints confident they can acquire contracted Sun​

St Kilda is confident it can prise Sam Flanders out of Gold Coast as the full extent of its trade shopping list becomes clearer.
The Saints are spreading the word that they will acquire Flanders in the exchange window after making contact with Gold Coast about a trade in the middle of the year.

But the relationship between the two clubs is far from rosy given St Kilda coach Ross Lyon slammed the Suns as the “AFL’s nepo baby” and president Andrew Bassat’s relentless attack on northern academies.
And Gold Coast is steaming over the Flanders whisper campaign on the eve of a highly-likely finals debut in which Flanders will feature.
Flanders, 24, has two years to run on a Suns contract having signed a four-year deal in 2023.
The Victorian had one foot out the door before Stuart Dew was replaced by Damien Hardwick in late 2023.
Under Hardwick, Flanders shone in 2024 across half-back and finished third in the best and fairest.
But the arrival of John Noble and Dan Rioli – and the midfield strength of Noak Anderson, Matt Rowell and Touk Miller – has seen him play half-forward in 2025. He was the starting sub against Port Adelaide last weekend.
Hardwick in June said Flanders wouldn’t be going anywhere at season's end.
“He ain’t going anywhere,” Hardwick said.

"We're not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won't be going anywhere.
"I've got a real soft spot for Sam, he's one of my favourites.”
St Kilda stands to be one of the most active clubs in the exchange window. Tom De Koning, Leek Aleer and Liam Ryan are among those also poised to arrive at Moorabbin after the club struck a $4 million, two-year agreement with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

Wow. Don’t see that working out for St Kilda… not this year anyway

 

[Mindfury]

so how much is the salary cap actually going up? because even with us banking 95% for years i'm at a loss to explain this one

 

[fargothegreat]

This will only happen if WC or Richmond want to split one of their picks. Otherwise there's nothing really in it for the Suns.

 

[Veer Right]

so how much is the salary cap actually going up? because even with us banking 95% for years i'm at a loss to explain this one

Steele and or Marshall out the door i guess.

 

[Mindfury]

Steele and or Marshall out the door i guess.

Marshall no chance.

and by no chance, I mean some chance but also some chance of me being arrested outside SOS' place of residence

 

[Bostonian]

So how early in the season were they tapping this guy up?

Why release this now with GC finals series potentially coming up?

 

[Veer Right]

Marshall no chance.

and by no chance, I mean some chance but also some chance of me being arrested outside SOS' place of residence

I am with you, i want Marshall 110% but with all the names we are linked to, one or more of the 30 year olds probably is making way if it all comes to fruition.

 

[fargothegreat]

So how early in the season were they tapping this guy up?

Why release this now with GC finals series potentially coming up?

Article reads like the Saints are telling other players' managers that they've got Flanders in the bag to entice them to join.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I said this elsewhere, have we not seen the Saints try this before (bringing in a bunch of mature players at once) and it went exactly as expected?

 

[Ash1337]

I said this elsewhere, have we not seen the Saints try this before (bringing in a bunch of mature players at once) and it went exactly as expected?

They mostly bought in fringe players. This time around it's mostly best 22.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

They mostly bought in fringe players. This time around it's mostly best 22.

They had that splurge of like 4 best 22 players a few years ago didnt they? All it did was prop up the main board "St Kilda in No Man's Land"

Hopefully this works out better, you could argue there is a better base for it with some of the young talent they have.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

They mostly bought in fringe players. This time around it's mostly best 22.

They brought in Ryder, Hill, Jones, Butler and Howard, all best 22 at the time, some still now.

 

[stavro#4]

They mostly bought in fringe players. This time around it's mostly best 22.

We brought in best 22 player with a very small youth base that didn’t have a high ceiling.

We have a significant amount of youth - with alot of high potential among them. Including a top 5-10 player in the game with Nas.

It’s a pretty different scenario now

 

[Ash1337]

They brought in Ryder, Hill, Jones, Butler and Howard, all best 22 at the time, some still now.

One of the few years they did and made semi-finals the next year.

 

[Mindfury]

They brought in Ryder, Hill, Jones, Butler and Howard, all best 22 at the time, some still now.

in fairness, we then made finals for the first time in a while under a completely different coaching roster.

as stavro pointed out, less youth at the time too

 

[Maybe Tomorrow]

Required player, 2 first rounders please.

The Nepo babies won't let him go cheap

 

[stavro#4]

Required player, 2 first rounders please.

The Nepo babies won't let him go cheap

Sam Edmunds report was that we have been speaking for awhile now about this trade and the cost to get it done.

I’d imagine it’s one first to help you pay for academy players this year.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

in fairness, we then made finals for the first time in a while under a completely different coaching roster.

as stavro pointed out, less youth at the time too

100%, was just pointing out that was a similarly concerted effort to make that leap up the ladder.

 

[Maybe Tomorrow]

Sam Edmunds report was that we have been speaking for awhile now about this trade and the cost to get it done.

I’d imagine it’s one first to help you pay for academy players this year.

I'm imagining it's more than one first. Otherwise come back in two years and pay him massive overs.

Pretty poor timing for this to come out right before the Suns crucial game. More shenanigans from St Kilda?

Hard to see the Suns being generous when trading. If Flanders wants to leave he will have plenty of options.

 

[Ash1337]

Sam Edmunds report was that we have been speaking for awhile now about this trade and the cost to get it done.

I’d imagine it’s one first to help you pay for academy players this year.

Could also be helping GC get pick 2.

 

[Maybe Tomorrow]

Could also be helping GC get pick 2.

Why would GC want pick 2?

 

[marcus1232]

I said this elsewhere, have we not seen the Saints try this before (bringing in a bunch of mature players at once) and it went exactly as expected?

The year was 2000 and we brought in Fraser Gehrig, Aaron hammill, Steve Lawrence, Mathew Capuano and Craig Callaghan

Worked out alright for us

 

[Ash1337]

Why would GC want pick 2?

Likely a player before academy bid? I was just going on rumours. It could be they want Duursma who could slot into the 3rd tall role.

 

[Elixuh]

Making big moves to try and tilt for a flag while Steele, Sinclair and Wilkie etc are still around?