Jack Steele has informed St Kilda of his desire to step down as captain.
The 29-year-old has led the club since 2021 and been one of the game’s best midfielders across the 2020s.
In a statement, the club said Steele was also open to a fresh start and a potential trade.
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He joins club captains Oscar Allen (West Coast), Zach Merrett (Essendon) and Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne) to express interest in a move in this year’s trade period.
“At his recent year-end exit interview Jack Steele advised the club of his desire to step down from the captaincy,” the St Kilda statement read.
“The club called Jack in today for a follow up discussion about his playing future and to discuss his openness to explore other opportunities.
“Jack advised the club he wants to stay but is prepared to consider opportunities if presented to him.”
Steele has played 185 games for the Saints since joining the club from GWS at the end of 2016. He made the 2020 and 2021 All-Australian teams and won best and fairest awards in the same years.
Key defender Callum Wilkie is expected to take the reins as captain next season after being approached by the Western Bulldogs before ultimately deciding to stay put.
St Kilda will bring in Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Liam Ryan and Leek Aleer in this year’s trade period, and potentially Suns midfielder Sam Flanders.
Speaking in August, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said the Saints no longer need Steele in their midfield mix.
“It’s a big call for St Kilda at the end of the year,” Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“(Steele’s) contracted for next year. I think they’ve gone past him.
“You’re captain of the club, I can understand him losing the captaincy and then saying ‘I’m just going to try and fight for my position’.
“I’m not sure if there’s another opportunity for him anywhere else.
“He seems to have lost his confidence.”
Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel put forward a team like West Coast, saying they need the kind of midfield leadership Steele could provide.
“They should be exploring the same thing North Melbourne did with Jack Darling and Luke Parker,” Bartel told Nine’s Footy Furnace in August.
“I’m talking about really experienced, really professional players who know how to go about their business.”
It will be a busy trade period for big-name midfielders, with Melbourne duo Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver also on the move.
Petracca has requested a trade to Gold Coast, while the Dees are reportedly willing to pay as much as $700,000 per season of Oliver’s salary to dump him.
