The race for in-demand Gold Coast gun Sam Flanders is heating up just over a week out from the trade period's opening, with St Kilda now believed to be "in the box seat" for the wantaway Sun.
Flanders is reportedly in line to meet with as many as four Victorian clubs as he looks to leave Queensland in favour of his home state, despite being under contract for the next two years.
As well as St Kilda, talks with Essendon, Carlton and Melbourne are also set to take place while Flanders is in Melbourne this week.
While the Suns have expressed their hesitancy to trade Flanders, they could be open to a deal should a rival meet their demands of a lucrative return.
According to SEN's Sam Edmund, the Saints have shot into a strong position in the race for Flanders' signature, putting up Pick 7 in a trade offer.
It's understood St Kilda have also tabled a five-year deal valued in the vicinity of $4.5 million for the Gippsland product.
The Sam Flanders sweepstakes has exploded.
Saints in the box seat with a contract offer worth $900k a year for 5 years.
The Saints also have offered pick 7 in a bid to tempt the Suns.
Flanders has met with multiple clubs as he ponders his future.
Contracted till 2027 at Gold…— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) September 26, 2025
A successful move for Flanders would cap off a busy off-season of recruitment for the Moorabbin club, who are also set to secure plays for Carlton duo Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, West Coast forward Liam Ryan, and GWS defender Leek Aleer.
Both De Koning and Silvagni are free agents and look set to join St Kilda for no trade cost, while Aleer, while off-contract, will need to be traded to leave the Giants.
Ryan is under contract and will also need to have a deal facilitated to move to Victoria.
Free agency opens on Friday and will run for one week, with the trade period opening on Monday, October 6 and concluding on Wednesday, October 15.
