Paddy ‘off limits’ but Saints keen to stock up

McCartin, who played five matches in 2017, is contracted until the end of 2018.

But the Saints are keen to lock the No. 1 draft pick away long-term, as the club enters its post-Nick Riewoldt era.

“We’ve only in the last week commenced discussions to recontract Paddy beyond next year,” Bains told SEN.

“He’s obviously away (in the United States), so we will ramp that up when he returns with his management.”

“He’s very much a long term player. We’re certainly looking to tie him up for the longer term, and we think that he will be a great player for the footy club over that period.”

AFL TRADE PERIOD STATE OF PLAY: WHO IS YOUR CLUB CHASING?

With the Saints missing out on the services of Richmond superstar Dustin Martin and emerging GWS midfielder Josh Kelly, the club is keen to enhance its stocks over the next two weeks of the trade period.

St Kilda has been linked to a number of players, including West Coast’s Andrew Gaff, who is reportedly keen to return home to Melbourne.

Bains said the club had spoken to Gaff’s management, albeit briefly.

“We made inquiries with his management and the West Coast Eagles to see if there was any truth in that and see what could be done with us,” Bains said.

“But both parties shut that down pretty quickly. It didn’t move too far.”

Bains labelled reports that St Kilda had offered GWS swingman Adam Tomlinson a five-year deal as “incorrect and certainly a bit premature”.

The Saints were keen to sign Tomlinson when he was coming out of contract last season, but the Giants moved on Monday to say the 24-year-old was off the trade table.

While Bains didn’t rule out approaching Tomlinson this trade period, he said there was still “a bit of water to go under the bridge” if the club were to reach an agreement with GWS.

Bains did, however, say the club was not interested in securing the services of Melbourne forward Jack Watts, who looks certain to play 2018 in different colours.

“We had a couple of preliminary discussions with his management when they advised us he was likely to be on the move,” Bains said.

“But looking at our list needs and where we need to bolster things, it was something that we didn’t think was right for us to pursue.”