St Kilda delivered trade blow as Ben Long signals intention to join rival
Tough utility Ben Long has confirmed he wants to leave St Kilda and move north to join Gold Coast ahead of next season.
The Saints on Wednesday announced the 25-year-old has requested a release in the upcoming trade period.
He opted to snub his current club - as well as advances from North Melbourne - and instead move to southern Queensland.
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"Ben has had a contract offer from the club for a number of months now, so we're naturally disappointed to receive this news, particularly as we believe Ben has a lot of good football in front of him," St Kilda list manager James Gallagher said.
Ben Long of the Saints wrestles with Callum Mills of the Swans. Getty
"While the option to stay at the Saints remains, and we would be disappointed to see Ben go, we will work with the Suns to see if an appropriate trade can be reached."
Long is the nephew of Essendon legend Michael Long, and grew up in Darwin where the Suns are now growing an academy.
He went at pick 25 in the 2016 national draft, and has played 79 AFL games since debuting for the Saints in 2017. This year was arguably his breakout season.
The acquisition of Long somewhat soothes the loss of rising superstar Izak Rankine for the Suns, after he requested a trade to Adelaide.
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