Heated race for young gun looms as Vic club circles; Saint to wait for seven-figure pay day: Trade Latest

A two-horse race for one of GWS’ emerging products is heating up, as a Victorian club prepares to make one last big pitch to drag him out of western Sydney.

Plus, why St Kilda and their fans can expect to wait a little longer before learning about the future of an out-of-contract young gun. Foxfooty.com.au brings you the latest player movement updates in Trade Latest!

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GIANTS UP ANTE IN FIGHT TO KEEP IN-DEMAND RUCK

The two-way race for out of contract ruck Nick Madden is heating up, as his current club GWS looks to re-sign the once-Category B product.

Foxfooty.com.au can reveal the Giants are see Madden sign a deal that would lock away the athletic 204cm product for the remainder of the decade.

Adam Kingsley’s club have been fighting off strong interest from Richmond, which foxfooty.com.au first reported in early May.

The Tigers are beginning to plan for what life might look like after Toby Nankervis hangs up the boots, with the club captain turning 32 in August.

Richmond are expected to make at least one more counteroffer for Madden, such is the strength of their interest in the 22-year-old. After being sidelined for the best part of two months with a PCL strain, Madden is a ‘test’ to return to football this weekend.

Fellow Giants ruck Kieran Briggs has been linked loosely to Punt Road, while several other western Sydney players remain undecided on their future — including captain Toby Greene, an injured Max Gruzewski and forward Jake Riccardi.

WILSON TO WAIT ON BIG CONTRACT CALL

The mid-season byes are done and dusted, but St Kilda fans shouldn’t be expecting a decision on Darcy Wilson’s future imminently.

As the 20-year-old continues to let his on-field performances do the talking, foxfooty.com.au understands the Saints are yet to close in on a deal that would lock away the Wangaratta product.

Should Wilson stay put at Moorabbin, he is expected, at this stage, to sign a short-term deal.

It comes after nearly the entire competition inquired at some point this season about his intentions beyond 2026, with particularly strong links to several rival clubs.

Geelong and North Melbourne are the duo most heavily linked to Wilson outside of Moorabbin, while foxfooty.com.au revealed in May that Adelaide was one of the first to show a serious interest in the dashing 55-gamer. Annual figures of up to $1.2 million have been reportedly offered for his services.

Subsequently, as is the case with most in-demand, out-of-contract players, his asking price has steadily risen since Opening Round.

The rival interest, paired with the lucrative contracts a handful of his teammates are on, makes it hard to see how Wilson wouldn’t be offered a seven-figure payday should he stay.

His situation is slowly resembling that of teammate Marcus Windhager last year, who was always keen to stay put at St Kilda but didn’t recommit until mid-September.

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