New St Kilda coach Brett Ratten doesn’t know where the talk of Josh Bruce leaving the club for the Western Bulldogs has come from.
Talk in recent weeks has been that Bruce will accept a four-year deal with the Dogs and move on from the Saints, but Ratten said he is a required player for 2020 at this stage.
“He’s a contracted player and he hasn’t come to us and said I am out,” Ratten told SEN Breakfast.
“We see him playing at the Saints. He kicked 36 goals, he was fifth in contested marks in the competition. They don’t grow on trees.
“We see him playing in our forward line.”
Jack Steven is another player who has been linked with a move out of St Kilda and Ratten confirmed they will help him get to Geelong, if that is what the four-time best and fairest winner wants.
“For Jack to be in the best space he can be, if that means he has to move to Geelong, I think we’ll try and make that happen,” he said.
“But if he wants to stay at St Kilda and that’s the best space for him, we’ll do that as well.
“We’re happy to maybe let him go, but we want something reasonable back for him.”
Brad Hill has requested a trade to St Kilda and Ratten believes he is exactly the type of player St Kilda needs.
“We’ve had good dialogue throughout the season and Brad has nominated us and they’re working through with the Fremantle Football Club to get a deal done,” he said.
“We admire what he’s done as a footballer. His ability to run and carry is something that we need.”