LEIGH Montagna and Nick Dal Santo have no intention of leaving St Kilda and are bemused by the media's obsession with trade speculation.

 

Montagna went through it last season when he was an unrestricted free agent before signing a two-year extension in August.

 

Dal Santo has been a hot topic this year despite the fact he has a trigger clause in his contract that will sign him for 2014 if he passes a medical at the season's end.

He admitted on Tuesday that he was having moments of doubt about his future with the Saints, but emphasised he wanted to stay at St Kilda.

 

Montagna said he hoped to start negotiations on a new deal with the Saints early next year that would see him extend his career beyond next season.

 

"I've committed to ending my career at St Kilda and it will just be matter of how many years I've got left," Montagna told AFL.com.au.

 

"I'm contracted for next year and I'd like to play for a few more years.

 

"From my point of view, hopefully we can start the year in reasonable form and start discussing a new contract."

 

Although Dal Santo has been talked about as trade bait in the media, he said in a Fairfax column on Tuesday he had "never entertained the idea of leaving the Saints".

 

"All the radio talk-back and media commentary would eventually make anyone question their value and contribution to the club," he wrote.

 

"I love the club, but more than that, I love the people involved in the club, especially the boys.

 

"I assume most players who have changed clubs have had moments of uncertainty and questioned whether they had made the right decision.

 

"It can't be easy, after building a reputation, respect and friendships."

He said it was only natural that media speculation meant "I have moments of wondering what this means for me".

 

Montagna admitted there was "maybe" an opportunity for him to leave the Saints last year when he had a "look around" as a free agent.

 

But the prospect made him realise he was already where he wanted to be after weighing up the pros and cons of chasing the ultimate success elsewhere.

 

"There was a little bit of seeing what was out there and available but I never seriously considered an offer," he said.

 

"When I had to make that decision, it was about weighing up what was important to me and what were the priorities.

 

"Even if I did go to another club for my last year or so, would it mean as much as doing it with the guys I've played for 10 years with and been through the highs and lows and everything we've gone through as a club?

 

"I decided it means more to me to be a one-club player and leave a legacy at St Kilda. I'll end up finishing my career here."

 

Montagna said the speculation that surrounds a player when he's coming out of contract - or appears an attractive trade prospect - was not a concern.

 

He said he was confident he and Dal Santo would remain teammates in 2014.  

 

"He hasn't walked into the footy club all nervous because he thinks he's getting traded because it's been said in the media," Montagna said.

 

"At the end of the day, it only matters what the club thinks.

 

"I expect him to be here. He's contracted and we talk about how we lack a bit of midfield depth as it is so I can't see how they'd get rid of one of our best midfielders.

 

"It doesn't happen very often that big name players get traded but I understand it creates interest and something for the media outlets to talk about.

 

"From that side of things, no one takes it too seriously and in regards to the older guys who are moving on, that's going to be their decision in conjunction with the club and that's the reality of it and everyone understands that."

 

Although Dal Santo says he wants to be a Saint next season, he has conceded the club has to make decisions for its future.

 

"It is currently my turn [to be talked about]. Next month it will be someone else's," Dal Santo said.

 

"At the end of the day, the club is an organisation and needs to do what is best for it. But it is becoming more apparent that so does the player."