St Kilda sizes up McMahonGreg Denham | August 12, 2009
TEN days ago Jordan McMahon achieved every player's dream by kicking the winning goal after the siren at the MCG to guide lowly Richmond to its fifth victory of the season.
Next year he could be playing for his third club, the 2009 premiership favourite, St Kilda.
Despite being contracted at Punt Road for another season, the last of a lucrative three-year deal that lured him away from the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2007, McMahon could be headed to Moorabbin via the AFL's player-exchange period in October.
While neither the Tigers nor the Saints have been in direct contact over McMahon's future, it is understood both clubs could mutually decide the fate of the 26-year-old, who was the Bulldogs' first selection, at No10 overall, in the 2000 national draft.
The Saints are known to be keen on him as a back-up player, which fits snuggly into coach Ross Lyon's philosophy of having confidence in recycled players from rival clubs.
But before any deal is struck, there's the matter of McMahon's $320,000 salary next year, and if the Saints remain interested in a trade, almost certainly for a draft selection, they will require the Tigers to pay a portion of his 2010 contract.
St Kilda's initial inquiry into McMahon has been made through his agent Alex McDonald.
Saints list manager Matthew Drain has intimate knowledge of McMahon, having worked at Whitten Oval as the Bulldogs' general manager of football operations before joining St Kilda late in 2007.
McMahon played 114 games with the Bulldogs between 2001 and 2007 before joining the Tigers.
Richmond gave up selection No19 in the draft for him and in return with that pick, the Dogs secured the promising Callan Ward, who has already played 22 senior games in his first two years, including 16 this season.
During the same period, McMahon has played 31 for the Tigers, but only nine this season, where he has spent many weekends finding touch in the VFL.
McMahon has played the past four games, under caretaker coach Jade Rawlings, and has averaged 21 possessions, including a 26-disposal performance in round 16 against North Melbourne.
The unbeaten Saints have had enormous success this year with a number of recycled players from other clubs, including ruckmen Michael Gardiner and Steven King, Adam Schneider, Sean Dempster, Jason Gram, Farren Ray and Zac Dawson, who are all currently ranked in their best 22.
Former Brisbane player Colm Begley played his first game for the Saints last Saturday, in their win over Hawthorn, after 29 games in three seasons with the Lions.
After just one trade was completed last year -- Robbie Warnock from Fremantle to Carlton -- involving a first- or second-round national draft selection, this season's top-finishing clubs are expected to be more active.
Because the national draft talent pool thins markedly after about the top 10 selections, it is anticipated that clubs with lower-order selections in the first round are preparing to trade first-round picks to recruit experienced talent from other clubs.
A number of club recruiting scouts this week told The Australian there was a "distinct gap" in the available teenage draft talent after about the first 10 selections.
Meanwhile, out-of-favour West Coast forward Ashley Hansen, 26, is set to join teammate Mark Seaby in seeking a trade to another club in search of better opportunities to play on a more regular basis.
The 2006 premiership key forward has played 76 of a possible 139 games in his six years at the Eagles, including nine matches this season, but he has not been a member of West Coast's victories in the past two rounds over Essendon and the Bulldogs.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25916928-2722,00.html
