ST KILDA is committed to keeping Jack Steven in the red, white and black beyond 2015, according to Chief Operating Officer Ameet Bains.
Bains told the Herald Sun that he doesn’t ‘foresee any issues’ when Steven becomes a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2015 and is confident a long-term deal can be struck.
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“The bottom line is he is a very critical player to us and our future and if you look at the number of re-signings we had last year with the young group, he is in the next batch of players in their 20s,” Bains said.
“We have been having discussions with his manager Peter Lenton that reflect that and we will continue to work through that but he seems happy here and we want him here so I don’t foresee any issues with it.
“The players are all committed to each other and to the club and we are on a journey and those signings have given everyone an underlying belief that we are on the right path.”
VIDEO: Jack Steven's amazing soccer goal
Nick Dal Santo’s departure at the end of 2013 and Lenny Hayes’ retirement last year has created gaps in the Saints engine room.
Young players like Maverick Weller, Jack Newnes and Luke Dunstan look set to take over the mantle, but none have the explosiveness of Steven, who averages 21.4 disposals per outing over the course of his 90-game career.
Although Steven was hampered by injury in 2014, his Trevor Barker Award the previous year was an accurate reflection of his value to the team.
The ex-Geelong Falcon topped the club for goal assists, clearances and contested possessions and played every game in 2013, finishing ahead of Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna in St Kilda's Best and Fairest vote count.
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