Saints move for ruckman Blake
Stephen Rielly | October 9, 2007
ST KILDA moved straight to the heart of a heated market for ruckmen yesterday by offering a three-year contract to Geelong's Mark Blake that, financially, is likely to be beyond the premiers to match.
Blake is yet to decide if he will leave behind the disappointment of his 11th-hour omission from the premiership team for a new start but the Saints signalled their intention yesterday to make that decision easier rather than harder with their offer, which is understood to be in excess of $800,000 over the three years.
"Like a lot of clubs we're looking to bolster our ruck division. With a young ruckman like Mark Blake considering his future, we're putting St Kilda at the forefront," said football operations manager, Ken Sheldon.
The Cats told clubs on the opening day of trading yesterday that Blake is required at Geelong.
Whether the Saints are prepared to go as far as offering their first-round selection (pick nine) to Geelong for Blake was unclear last night but they were conceding that they will need to trade given the interest from Richmond, among others, in the follower.
The Tigers, with first pick in the pre-season draft, have another option available to them. Richmond's director of football, Greg Miller, met Blake's agent Anthony McConville yesterday afternoon.
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