St Kilda is set for another big trade period win, with claims a gun midfielder has backflipped amid lucrative rival interest.
Plus one of 2026’s top free agents is now off the market.
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‘ABSOLUTELY OUT THE DOOR’: SAINT’S BIG BACKFLIP
St Kilda is set to have another trade period win, with Nine’s Sam McClure reporting in-demand midfielder Marcus Windhager has changed his mind and will stay at the club.
Windhager has been strongly linked to an exit with GWS, North Melbourne and Melbourne among those making a play for the 22-year-old.
But an improved offer to the out-of-contract young gun is set to see him reject the Kangaroos, who he was going to join on a five-year deal, according to McClure on the Tradies Podcast.
Windhager is instead expected to sign an improved deal at St Kilda, who were offering him a four-year contract.
“Windhager’s staying,” McClure said.
“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, Seven’s Mitch Cleary, claimed Melbourne were still in the race for the midfielder.
The Saints are by far the busiest team this trade period with Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni to join as free agents, and Liam Ryan and Leek Aleer requesting trades to Moorabbin.
They’ve also been linked to Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders while star ruckman Rowan Marshall has spoken with Geelong about a move due to De Koning’s arrival.
Dal Santo rules out Lions premiership | 00:48
TOP 2026 FREE AGENT’S CONTRACT CALL
One of next year’s top free agents is off the market with Jack Buckley re-signing with the GWS Giants.
The gun key defender has signed a four-year extension, taking him through to the end of 2030, with the club confirming the news to members this evening.
Buckley would’ve received multimillion-dollar offers to leave next year given the dearth of key defenders on the market but chose to recommit to the Giants.
He has battled serious injuries across his time in the AFL, playing 17 games across his first five seasons due to knee issues, but has played 68 games since the start of 2023 as part of arguably the league’s best key defensive partnership with Sam Taylor.
However despite having Taylor and Buckley the Giants conceded the most points of any top-eight team this year, and were exploited defensively in their elimination final loss to Hawthorn, when Buckley didn’t play.
The Giants will be looking for more defensive depth this trade period with Leek Aleer requesting a move to St Kilda and Lachie Keeffe retiring.
Buckley joins the likes of Connor Idun (2032), Aaron Cadman (2030), Finn Callaghan (2029) and Toby Bedford (2029) on long-term deals in orange.
His decision leaves the likes of Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters, Carlton’s Sam Walsh, Brisbane’s Zac Bailey, Fremantle’s Sam Switkowski and Gold Coast’s Ben King as the top free agents on the market.
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