ST KILDA moved straight to the heart of a heated market for ruckmen yesterday by offering a three-year contract to Geelong's Mark Blake that, financially, is likely to be beyond the premiers to match.

Blake is yet to decide if he will leave behind the disappointment of his 11th-hour omission from the premiership team for a new start but the Saints signalled their intention yesterday to make that decision easier rather than harder with their offer, which is understood to be in excess of $800,000 over the three years.

"Like a lot of clubs we're looking to bolster our ruck division. With a young ruckman like Mark Blake considering his future, we're putting St Kilda at the forefront," said football operations manager, Ken Sheldon.

The Cats told clubs on the opening day of trading yesterday that Blake is required at Geelong — as is midfielder Brent Prismall — and did not raise the option of moving Steven King on to ease Blake's concerns about again playing third banana to Brad Ottens and the man who replaced him in the grand final 22.

The Saints are less interested in King who, at 28, is six years older than Blake, but the former captain is likely to be the player the Cats release if one has to go — especially if money has to be found to improve Blake's offer against the salary cap pressure that will inevitably increase as the club seeks to hold its premiership list together.

Whether the Saints, who also have an interest in Melbourne's Chris Johnson, are prepared to go as far as offering their first-round selection (pick nine) to Geelong for Blake was unclear last night but they were conceding that they will need to trade given the interest from Richmond, among others, in the follower.

The Tigers, with first pick in the pre-season draft, have another option available to them. Richmond's director of football, Greg Miller, met Blake's agent Anthony McConville yesterday afternoon.

The Cats indicated yesterday that they are prepared to discuss Charlie Gardiner, Henry Playfair and Kane Tenace and have all but agreed to release Tim Callan to the Western Bulldogs for a late-round pick, but Geelong would not budge on Prismall despite interest from Essendon and Melbourne.

The Saints are in a crowded field vying for a ruckman, but they need to be — the club has had trouble filling the role since the lack of faith in ruckmen displayed by former coach Grant Thomas in the first half of the decade, the retirement of Matthew Clarke, the doubts about Michael Gardiner's ability to return to the game and the failure of Barry Brooks.

Melbourne offered its third round-selection, pick 37, for Adelaide ruckman John Meesen, an offer that was refused. The Crows want a second-round selection for the player they chose with pick eight in the 2004 national draft.

The Western Bulldogs were moving closer to the idea of giving up their second-round pick, selection 22, for another Adelaide ruckman, Ben Hudson, but if they do they hope to return to the second round by trading a player out — in all likelihood running defender Jordan McMahon.

Collingwood, like the Tigers and Saints, were declaring their interest in Brisbane ruckman Cameron Wood. The Magpies were contemplating the possibility of giving up their first-round pick, selection 14, to put the contracted 20-year-old into a black-and-white jumper.

Given the higher draft positions of both Richmond and St Kilda, who are eyeing Wood in the event that they miss out on Blake, the Magpies believe that it might take their first-round selection to win the day.

"He's under contract so we have to satisfy them (Brisbane) as well as convincing him to come," Collingwood football operations manager Geoff Walsh said.

Possible ruck deals

MARK BLAKE Geelong

Wanted by St Kilda

BEN HUDSON Adelaide

Wanted by Western Bulldogs

JOHN MEESEN Adelaide

Wanted by Melbourne

CAMERON WOOD Brisbane Lions

Wanted by Collingwood

STEVEN KING Geelong

Club may be willing to deal in order to keep Mark Blake.