Rival club moves to poach suspended Sydney footy star Nick Blakey - but Swans dig in over reports he wants out

St Kilda has reportedly enquired about banned Sydney star Nick Blakey as the Swans tell rival clubs their suspended players are unavailable for trade.

The Saints' interest comes amid reports the All-Australian defender wants to leave Sydney after a deterioration in his relationship with the club.

Blakey remains contracted until the end of 2031, having signed a seven-year extension in June 2023.

But his future has become a talking point ahead of the trade period, with journalist Tom Morris reporting St Kilda has 'asked the question' about the 26-year-old.

'There are other clubs that have asked the question as well, obviously with no formal commitment,' Morris said.

Sydney has moved to discourage potential suitors.

According to Morris, the Swans told 'a few clubs' during a list-management briefing on Wednesday that none of their suspended players were 'up for trade'.

'They would say that at the moment,' Morris added.

The enquiries follow earlier reporting that Blakey was likely to seek a trade in October after becoming unhappy with his treatment by Sydney.

He had also reportedly explored a potential move to Gold Coast in 2025.

Blakey was one of five Swans players suspended by the club for the remainder of the 2026 season on August 19 following an alleged incident in a Melbourne hotel room.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon were also sanctioned.

A woman who was in the room reported a sexual assault. Reports accompanying the suspensions stated that none of the five players had been accused of sexual assault.

Blakey's teammate and housemate James Rowbottom previously said he had not discussed the details of a possible departure with the defender.

'I haven't spoken to Nick about any sort of details [about a trade],' Rowbottom said.

'You've got to sort of separate the person from the problem when you live with someone to try and offer support.'

A departure would end a Sydney connection stretching back to Blakey's childhood.

The son of dual North Melbourne premiership player John Blakey moved to Sydney at six when his father joined the Swans' coaching panel.

He grew up in the city's eastern suburbs, attended Waverley College and developed through the Sydney academy.

Blakey could have joined North Melbourne or Brisbane under father-son rules but chose the Swans, who matched Greater Western Sydney's bid at pick ten in the 2018 draft.

Known as 'Lizard', he earned a Rising Star nomination in his debut season and All-Australian selection in 2024.

He has played 172 senior games for Sydney, with his lengthy contract leaving any prospective suitor needing to negotiate a deal with the Swans.