A pair of Saints are unsure of their future as they still remain out of contract at Moorabbin.
According to AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich, that duo is young midfielder Jack Bytel and defender Jarrod Lienert.
SEN’s Sam Edmund recently reported that Bytel, 22, had preliminary interest from Essendon, but Gabelich says he remains in “limbo” without a deal for the 2023 season.
“He (Bytel) doesn’t have an offer from the Saints right now, he’s attracting a little bit of interest,” Gabelich said on AFL Trade Radio.
“There’s a chance he remains at St Kilda, he’s one of those players like at every club, that’s in a little bit of limbo.
“They need to get through the trade period first before making a decision on his future.”
According to Gabelich, Bytel is more likely to remain at RSEA Park than Lienert, despite the defender playing 11 games for the Saints in 2022 after being picked up as a supplemental selection player.
“There are two Saints in that situation right now, Jack Bytel and Jarrod Lienert,” Gabelich said.
“Jarrod Lienert looks less likely than likely to get another deal, despite playing a fair bit of footy this year coming in as an SSP pick.
“Jack Bytel didn’t play any senior footy this year, he played 13 games last year (2021) and showed quite a bit, but couldn’t get in, he had some issues with his body.
“He played really well at Sandringham, so it’s a wait and see on Jack Bytel.
“But he has attracted a little bit of interest, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens there.”
Bytel has played 16 senior games for the club since being taken with pick no. 41 in the 2018 draft.