Opportunity starved Greater Western Sydney midfielder Jack Steele is in St Kilda’s sights in the upcoming trade period, according to Saints Chief Operating Officer Ameet Bains.
Despite stellar form in the NEAFL and some impressive performances at AFL level, the Giants academy graduate hasn’t been able to secure a permanent spot in Greater Western Sydney’s midfield during two seasons at Spotless Stadium, due to their enviable level of depth and talent.
Steele, 20, played 10 games this season for a career total of 17 after being secured by the Giants with selection No. 24 in the 2014 National Draft. The Canberra product played eight of the first 10 games this season but didn't feature in Leon Cameron's plans after Round 17.
All you need to know about the 2016 AFL Trade Period
“We have strong interest in Jack and I guess like a number of clubs we’ve been looking at how his season’s unfolded,” Bains told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Thursday afternoon.
“Obviously the Giants midfield is incredible if you look at the guys that missed out on playing in a lot of their finals, it’s the envy of all clubs and Jack’s one we felt if he came to our club he’d get that opportunity.”
Bains indicated that St Kilda is looking to improve their midfield depth during this year’s trade period, which officially kicks into gear next Monday, with the club drawn to Steele’s athleticism and size.
“There are a number of things (appealing about Steele): his size, his running capacity, his ability to play overhead and play in different parts of the ground as well,” Bains said.
“I think most clubs would say that you can’t have enough midfielders and that’s been highlighted by the Bulldogs on the Swans on the weekend; they have the two deepest midfields in the comp.”
What are they all looking at?
Bains believes the acquisition of Steele would boost St Kilda’s big-bodied midfielder stocks, complementing the likes of Seb Ross, who produced a breakout season in 2016 and demonstrated how invaluable it is having versatile midfielders.
“If you ask our supporters, they probably have a handful of names that they were really happy with in terms of their development and progression in 2016 and one of those guys was Seb Ross,” he said.
“He [Ross] clearly is one of those guys [big-bodied midfielders] and if you look at the stature and size of most of our mids he is quite unique, so if Jack were to leave the Giants and choose us he would complement that."
The free agency window opens on Friday, with deals able to be struck from next Monday morning when the trade period officially opens at 10am.
