JAKE STAYS A SAINT
JAKE Carlisle has pledged his future to St Kilda after finally ticking off a games-based clause that will see him handed a contract for 2020 worth around $600,000 a season.
Carlisle’s intercept marking in the final quarter of St Kilda’s last-gasp win over Fremantle was so commanding Dockers coach Ross Lyon singled it out post match.
He will play his 48th game for the Saints against Carlton on Saturday afternoon at the MCG, fulfilling a requirement that will automatically see him extending his contract.
The 27-year-old is open to a contract extension with St Kilda over summer that would secure his future to the club long-term.
The former Essendon star missed a season with the club’s peptides-based suspension but can see how much promise there is at Moorabbin.
“Obviously I want to be here. I am very happy here at this point in time,” he said.
“We are trying to take as much as we possibly can out of the season. Individually I have got a game to go and would love to get it next week, but we will wait and see if I get picked and go from there.
“Carlton next week and Sydney the week after and hopefully can get two more wins and see what happens.”
Carlisle has formed a strong marking combination with Josh Battle and rookie pick Callum Wilkie and believes the club can push hard for finals next year.
“This is my fourth year at the club and I chose this club ahead of anyone else and I think we have got enough games into the players who have played together. We have played together for three or four years now and to be great you have got to have that.
“You can’t just have highend talent and old guys, you need to play together and have chemistry so I feel like we are doing that and we are just building towards where we want to get to.”
The Saints are still waiting for an answer after offering Todd Goldstein a three-year contract and are one of the league’s more active clubs in the player market.
With significant cap space they have at least publicly been linked to Hugh Greenwood, Brad Hill, Stephen Coniglio, Adam Tomlinson and Zak Jones.
Jack Steven wouldn’t comment on his trade intentions after his sparkling three-goal display but is expected to ask for a trade to Geelong.