ST KILDA'S slim hopes of snaring contracted West Coast defender Mitch Brown have been slashed, with Eagles list manager Craig Vozzo declaring the 23-year-old won't be traded under any circumstances.  

Through his manager, Brown last week repeated his wish to be traded to St Kilda - where he would be offered a three-year deal - to receive more opportunities at senior level.

The Saints have indicated to West Coast they would accept only Brown in a trade for versatile 20-year-old Jamie Cripps, who wants to return to WA.

Vozzo said he had told St Kilda a number of times Brown wouldn't be traded under any circumstances and the Eagles would be seeking to extend his contract, which runs to the end of the 2013 season.

"We'd definitely look at recontracting him … there's always risk in 12 months' time if we haven't done that and we recognise that," Vozzo told Gillette AFL Trade Radio. 

"I think he sees there's opportunity here. We certainly have identified that for him.

"Where [St Kilda's] list sits, he'd look at it as being immediate round one. That’s not to say he's not going to play here in round one either.

"But we've got (Eric) Mackenzie, (Darren) Glass and (Will) Schofield, so there's slightly more competition for those tall back spots."

Vozzo said discussions to secure Cripps had been progressing slowly because of the Saints' insistence on dealing for Brown. 
 
"I would have thought it's not a difficult transaction to finish but unfortunately it's proving to be so," Vozzo aid.

The Saints are one of three clubs - along with Essendon and the Western Bulldogs - discussing a trade for West Coast midfielder Koby Stevens.

Vozzo said the club would ideally receive a pick in the 30s for the 21-year-old, who was recruited with pick No.23 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.  

"We're working through it very slowly," Vozzo said. "It seems to have stalled a little.

"I'm confident [a trade] will occur through the process in the next week-and-a-half."

Vozzo also confirmed free agent Mark Nicoski would be re-signed at West Coast for another season.

"There was never any thought of not re-contracting Mark for the additional year … that's a fait accompli."

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Nathan Schmook covers West Coast news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan