St Kilda’s trade period manoeuvring has taken another dramatic turn, with Marcus Windhager now expected to stay put despite being heavily linked with a move elsewhere.
The 22-year-old midfielder had been courted by North Melbourne, GWS and Melbourne, with the Kangaroos tabling a lucrative five-year deal.
According to Nine’s Sam McClure, Windhager was “absolutely out the door” and on the verge of leaving Moorabbin, only for an improved Saints offer to turn the tide.
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A complete U-turn
McClure told the Tradies Podcast: “Windhager’s staying. I think you’ll find that Marcus Windhager will agree to new terms with St Kilda. In the last couple of weeks, he’s done the full 180. He was absolutely out the door and going to North. Then Melbourne had a good look. And I think you’ll find that Ross and SOS have turned him back.”
His co-host Mitch Cleary, from Seven, added that Melbourne were still in the mix for the young gun, though the momentum is clearly with the Saints.
It’s another sign of St Kilda’s aggressive trade strategy this year, with Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni already lined up as free agents, while Liam Ryan and Leek Aleer have both requested trades to join. The Saints have also been linked with Sam Flanders, though Rowan Marshall’s talks with Geelong loom as a subplot to monitor.