ST KILDA doesn't know whether four-time best and fairest Jack Steven will stay at the club next year as Geelong prepares a bid to lure the star onballer down the highway.
Steven is contracted to the Saints until the end of 2020 but has been through a difficult period, having battled a mental illness which has limited him to four games this season.
AFL.com.au revealed on Thursday the Cats would again seek to trade for Steven.
Jack Steven training in January this year. Picture: Michael Willson
He will take to the field in the VFL on Sunday in his second match back from an extended break, but interim coach Brett Ratten is unsure where the 29-year-old's future lies.
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"I'm not sure. I haven't spoken to him about that (whether Steven wants a fresh start)," Ratten said.
If you're coaching … you want talent around, and he's got an abundance of that, so you'd love to have him at the footy club - Brett Ratten on Jack Steven
"I've only been in this role for a week, really. Whatever's best for Jack, if he's happy, that's the main thing, personally, and I know Richo (former coach Alan Richardson), as well, wanted him to be happy and in a good space, so that's our main aim as a footy club."
As a coach in the running for the full-time position, Ratten wants to see Steven hang around.
"That's a list management decision there, but what a great player," Ratten said.
"Four B&Fs, he's been outstanding for the football club and he's just such a talent. If you're coaching … you want talent around, and he's got an abundance of that, so you'd love to have him at the footy club."
Ratten's own coaching future is up in the air. Carlton and North Melbourne are other clubs with vacancies, although the Roos are expected to go with incumbent caretaker Rhyce Shaw.
A Carlton champion and former coach there, Ratten hasn't been in contact with the club.
Brett Ratten celebrates St Kilda's R18 win with the players. Picture: AFL Photos
"I haven't heard from the Blues," Ratten said.
Triple All Australian Dan Hannebery trained in the main session on Thursday, but will be sidelined for a fourth-straight game with a hamstring issue.
He will have another session on Saturday with a view to returning for the following week's clash with Adelaide.
"Dan was really close. He just didn't feel quite right, and with a player of his history, we want to make sure he's right to go," Ratten said.
"We don't want to push him out there at 80 per cent or 75 per cent. We want to make sure he's confident, and he wasn't quite to where he wanted to be."
Young gun Josh Battle will resume with Sandringham on Sunday at Trevor Barker Beach Oval after recovering from a right knee medial ligament strain.
It's unlikely that stint in the reserves will last for long, though.
"His form wasn't too bad before he went out with a knee injury but he's missed three weeks," Ratten said.
"It was sort of like, this team has won a game of football, we've kept the Bulldogs to 19 shots at goal, they've done a great job, so do we need to make change?
"He's got a medial ligament, he feels good, let him get through this week and then he'll probably come back in next week."
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