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Trade talk: Saints ruckman open to exit if De Koning arrives
SEN • July 9th, 2025 9:05 am
Rowan Marshall is reportedly open to a St Kilda departure if the club happens to be successful in luring Tom De Koning from Carlton.
Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary suggests that Marshall could look for the exit door at RSEA Park if the Saints land De Koning on a big-money deal.
Marshall, 29, is contracted with the Saints until the end of 2027.
“This is a story that I think will heat up in the next seven weeks,” Cleary said on The Agenda Setters.
“There are rival clubs that believe if Tom De Koning arrives at Moorabbin - which looks increasingly likely - that Rowan Marshall will be open to exploring a trade away from the Saints.
“The two ruckman situation clearly hasn’t been working around the competition. Other clubs feel that Rowan Marshall is open to a move if De Koning arrives.
“The Saints hold the whip hand here. He turns 30 later this year, he has two years left on a lucrative contract at more than $800,000 a season.
“But clubs see Rowan Marshall in play when it comes to the ruck merry-go-round at the end of the year.”
Cleary insists that Saints coach Ross Lyon and Marshall have a strong relationship but that does not necessarily mean the club’s number one ruck is keen to share duties and spend time as a key forward.
“Ross feels he’s got an extremely close relationship with Rowan Marshall. It’s even grown in the last 12 months, they regularly catch up away from the footy club,” he added.
“Marshall has been playing sore the last couple of weeks with a back concern.
“The Saints are adamant that the two ruck situation is going to work and that Marshall will be brought along for the ride.
“But it’s in limbo from the Rowan Marshall side of things.”
What would the Saints get for Marshall?
“I don’t think they’d let Marshall go for anything less than a top 12 or 15 pick,” Cleary said further.
“I think this one will be haggled late in the trade period.”
Agenda Setters host Kane Cornes said: “I’m not sure there’s a club in their right mind who would give Pick 12 to 15 for a 30-year-old ruckman.”
Marshall is averaging 18.4 disposals, 27.7 hit outs, 4.6 tackles and 4.2 clearances in 2025.
He will play his 150th game for the Saints alongside teammate Mason Wood (150 total AFL games) against Sydney this weekend.
