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Sport Nation
Trade talk: Saints confident they can acquire contracted Sun
Sam Edmund • August 27th, 2025 1:08 pm
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.
