Nick Dal Santo wants to remain at St Kilda next season but would accept a trade if club looks to rebuild.
Dal Santo has spent 12 AFL seasons at the Saints and would “love” to stay on at the club despite 2013’s five-win season.
“I actually really enjoyed the Monday to Friday at St Kilda this year, ” Dal Santo told RSN – Racing & Sport.
“The weekends were obviously difficult when we were losing games and that’s all part of it.
“Actually dealing with young guys I really enjoyed that role and I felt like I learnt a lot when that was me.”
The 29-year-old has been linked to North Melbourne, but still has a year remaining on current deal.
“If the club feel that they need to go in a new direction and I think it is actually important to go in a new direction with the young kids … if that’s the direction they want to go, then I can actually understand that from their perspective if they feel like I’m not a part of that,” he said.
Dal Santo will turn 30 before the start of the 2014 AFL season after averaging 24.8 possessions per game in 2013, the fourth highest mark of his career.
Collingwood cleaned house earlier in the week by delisting six players, headlined by the likes of Alan Didak and Darren Jolly, while Dale Thomas is also expected to leave the club as a free agent this off-season.
Heath Shaw is expected to join what should be a summer of high turnover for the Magpies as rumours emerge the defender will be traded.
Shaw has two seasons remaining on his current deal, but his elimination final tantrum has played the 27-year-old out of favour with the club.
Shaw gave away an unforgivable free kick to Angus Monfries directly in front of goal during a crucial second quarter stretch, the latest in a long list of undisciplined actions spanning a nine-year career.
Sydney is rumoured to be atop the possible list of destinations and would provide the 27-year-old with the opportunity to play alongside his brother Rhyce.
SEN’s Dermot Brerton spoke out against the possibility of trading Shaw, saying there was “no hope in hell of him going. You don’t let talent like him go… if you have already five going out…”
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Morne de Klerk, Getty Images.
