The real reason behind St Kilda’s steep asking price for Marshall

October 6, 2026 — 12:19pm

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While he was lying on the couch watching Netflix or cleaning out his sock drawer, or indeed doing anything at all rather than going to his club’s best and fairest night, Rowan Marshall quietly finished 10th at the St Kilda awards function he was not at.

Marshall avoided needing to pose for red carpet pics or speak disingenuously of his love and affection for a club he has felt neither from in the past year. (We’re not talking about his teammates, players always love their teammates.)

Marshall didn’t want to be at Moorabbin this year after the club brought Tom De Koning in over the top of him last October. We were told Marshall was fully on board with having a new stable partner. We now know he wasn’t.

But then, as now, Marshall had a contract so he sucked it up and played the season. Played it well, too, to come tenth in the B&F. Interestingly, TDK was not in the top 10. This trade period Marshall is less inclined to suck it up. Monday night was a first statement.

Twelve months ago, St Kilda rejected Geelong’s overtures for Marshall and never stated what would persuade them to change their minds. This year they have at least put a price on a trade. They want Geelong’s first round pick and “a player”. Say what? OK, it’s an opening gambit, but sheesh, a first rounder and a player? It would be remarkable were that to be the eventual trade price.

There is a logic to the ambit bid though, and it’s a logic that that ripples through deals involving Geelong, Carlton, Brisbane and GWS.

St Kilda needs to lose a Marshall to........

© Brisbane Times