Brett Ratten expects St Kilda to offer Jake Carlisle a new contract amid the uncertainty over the star defender’s AFL future.

Carlisle ruled himself out of the Saints’ semi-final against Richmond on Friday night for family reasons, with his partner due to give birth.

But it may not be the last fans have seen of the 29-year-old in red, white and black.

“I think he will (be offered a new contract),” Saints coach Ratten said.

“I think they’re talking now, but that’s between Gags (list manager James Gallagher) and his manager.

“With the scheduling and everything with contracts and all that, that’s just been up to James Gallagher and he’s working through that.

“But I dare say there’d be something put towards Jake.”

Carlisle has played 147 AFL games, including 62 with St Kilda since crossing from Essendon in a high-profile 2015 trade move.

He made a call early in the week to put family ahead of football and withdraw from the semi-final team.

The club supported Carlisle’s decision, but missed their premier defender dearly as Richmond forward Tom Lynch fired against an under-fire Saints back line.

Lynch kicked 2.5 in the Tigers’ 31-point win, which ended St Kilda’s season.

“Jake’s had a good record on Lynch and done a good job a few times,” Ratten said.

“There was a little bit of three men flying and we get beaten and they score a goal out the back.

“There was a bit of that in the game and it was disappointing.”