'Slow decline': Great's concern over $800k talks as 'Moneyball' trade ...

St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna has questioned whether his former club should strongly pursue contracted Bulldog Jack Macrae, suggesting there could be a more appealing “Moneyball” option.

Macrae, a triple All-Australian, last month informed the Western Bulldogs he wanted to be traded to the Saints, despite having three years remaining on his lucrative Dogs contract.

Bulldogs list manager Sam Power on Monday told AFL Trade Radio his club, at that stage, hadn’t spoken with St Kilda about a trade for Macrae, who was dropped to the VFL later in the 2024 season and was the Bulldogs’ starting sub in three of his last four AFL games of the year.

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“I think when someone comes to you, your initial starting point is to be respectful of that and you sort of open ears,” Power told AFL Trade Radio.

“But at the same time, it needs to be a suitable deal, especially for a player in contract.”

Saints football boss David Misson told reporters there was “a fair bit of water to go under the bridge”, adding his club was “a long way away from bringing in a player like (Macrae) at the moment”.

Macrae, across the past three seasons, has averaged 26.8 disposals, 6.0 score involvements, 4.7 clearances and 4.0 marks per 100 minutes, according to Champion Data.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s Trading Day on Monday night, Montagna compared Macrae’s output over the same time period to outgoing Saint Seb Ross, who averaged 23.5 disposals, 4.9 score involvements, 3.9 clearances and 3.7 marks

“He (Macrae) was an All-Australian in 2021. Ever since then he’s been slowly on the decline as a player, so it’s interesting that St Kilda are looking at taking him,” Montagna told Trading Day.

“The player he’s essentially going to replace, Seb Ross, his last three seasons are not too dissimilar in regards to his ball-winning ability and running capacity. Yes it’s a slight upgrade, but you are paying $800,000 at three years on a guy who’s coming to the club, compared to a heart-and-soul player like Seb Ross.”

Montagna suggested Carlton’s Matt Kennedy, who was reportedly told last month he was free to explore his options despite one year remaining on his Blues contract, could be a more appealing option for the Saints.

Kennedy, across the past three seasons, has averaged 23.0 disposals, 5.7 score involvements, 3.6 clearances and 4.9 marks per 100 minutes, according to Champion Data.

“What I like to look at is the Moneyball situation and whether there’s a player (Kennedy) who’s also gettable and who’s only 27 – so nearly four years younger than Jack Macrae – who’s also a ball-winner who can play on the inside, but can play that half-forward role, which Jack Macrae is going to have to play at St Kilda,” Montagna said. “It’s a guy I think who’s coming into the peak of his powers – and his club is essentially offering him up.

“Compared to Jack Macrae, his numbers aren’t too dissimilar. He’d be half the value of what Macrae is on in terms of regards to his contract situation.

“If there are other clubs that are thinking about it – and maybe for St Kilda – there might be a better option.”

Montagna said if the Saints did land Macrae, they shouldn’t have to rely heavily on him.

“As a St Kilda fan, ideally you don’t want Jack Macrae to be in your best three midfielders if you’re going anywhere as a club,” Montagna said.

“He’s a guy that provides depth and has to play some periphery roles,” Montagna said.