MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 19: Jack Lonie of the Saints is congratulated by his teammates after kicking a goal during the round nine AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Collingwood Magpies at Etihad Stadium on May 19, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
St Kilda duo Dean Kent and Jack Lonie both face a nervous wait to see if they will be offered a contract for next year.
Lonie and Kent both didn't feature heavily for Brett Ratten's side in 2021, and according to AFL.com.au's Mitch Cleary, may have to wait until the end of the trade period to see whether or not alternatives are brought in by the club.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
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“Dean Kent hasn’t been offered a contract, he’s been told he has to wait, Jack Lonie also,” Cleary said on AFL Trade Radio.
“(Lonie) signed a one-year deal last year with a trigger for a second. He’s missed that trigger, he’s now been told he has to wait until the end of trade period to see what they bring in.
"(There is no interest) in a significant way."
Lonie only featured nine times for Ratten's side in 2021, the last of which coming in Cairns when the Saints lost to the Crows.
The 25-year-old was drafted at pick 41 in the 2014 draft and has featured on 85 occasions for St Kilda, booting 73 goals.
It was rumoured last year that the Bulldogs were interested in his services, but the small forward was instead offered a contract for season 2021.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
Meanwhile, Dean Kent arrived from the Demons ahead of the 2019 season and has played 35 times for the Saints in three years.
The Western Australian has a slightly better goal-to-game ratio than Lonie with 90 goals in 98 AFL games, however he too has found chances in the side few and far between this year.
With Jack Higgins coming in during the off-season and Cooper Sharman finding his place within the side, it looks as if Lonie and Kent are very much down the pecking order when it comes to Ratten's preferred forward-line.
Plus with the Saints looking to the draft this season to bolster their stocks and Cats tall Nathan Kreuger also in their sights by many accounts, the future of the aforementioned duo might be looking bleak.
St Kilda have a lot of work to do over the off-season after a bitterly disappointing end to 2021, missing out on finals footy after such a promising previous season.