Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Geelong remains reluctant to part ways with its first-round pick in a deal for St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall.
Marshall has requested a second trade to the Cattery in as many years and the Saints are open to discussions for the contracted big man.
But Geelong considers a request for a first-round selection – currently pick 14 – off limits.
The Cats are also interested in luring Essendon defender Jordan Ridley, having already signed free agent Toby Greene from GWS.
Geelong general manager Andrew Mackie said it was important the club maintained its first pick with Tasmania compromising the draft next season.
“We’re hopeful that’s not needed, we feel like we’ve got plenty there,” Mackie said when asked if Geelong needed to trade a player for Marshall.
“Pick 14 is of real value to us given what’s going to transpire in the competition (next year).
“I feel like we’ve got enough that we can get the trades done, but as I said, when you’ve got contracted players that want to come to your club, it doesn’t make it easy on us.
“That’s certain, not just us any club, in reality if they’re out of contract or they’re Toby Greene – unrestricted free agent – it’s much easier.
“But right now there’s a couple of guys that are in contract. We’ve got intentions to bring them in but we understand there is always a scenario that they’re held to contract. That’s real.”
Geelong offered pick 19 and a future second-round selection last year, but St Kilda was steadfast on holding Marshall to his contract.
The Saints still believe Marshall can work in tandem with Tom De Koning despite being open to trade offers.
“If you looked at their combination across the year … our clearance game, it improved dramatically,” St Kilda general manager Lenny Hayes said.
“I think that was because of both of them working together.
“If we weren’t able to get to a deal, we’d obviously welcome Rowan back with open arms because we saw how damaging that can be at its best.
“After 12 months, we think, another 12 months that could develop even further.
“We felt that it kept the pressure on the opposition by having two guys who could rotate through there, we saw it as a real positive for us.
“Both of them played some really good football throughout the year and when one of them wasn’t there, the other really stepped up.
“We think it’s a world where both of them exist in the same team, which they did this year.”
