Gold Coast facing challenge to secure Suns Academy stars in draft as rivals circle
Rivals are sensing they could snare one of the Suns’ prized academy players in the draft. But at least two Victorian clubs are interested in a pick swap that would help Gold Coast match bids.
Gold Coast is poised for some draft night wheeling and dealing to secure as many Suns Academy stars as possible after Friday’s pre-draft trading deadline came and went without movement.
Top five picks Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson are all-but locks to land at the Suns on November 19 but academy teammates Jai Murray, Beau Addinsall and Koby Coulson remain in the dark over their futures.
“I haven’t spoken to them too much about that,” Murray told Code Sports on Friday.
“I see (the Suns’ recruitment team) on Tuesday so I think I will know a bit more then.
“I met them earlier in the year and then at the combine but nothing about the draft, yet.”
Rival clubs know the Suns will be hard-pressed to match bids on all five academy graduates given the bulk of their draft hand would be absorbed to land Uwland and Patterson inside the top five.
Murray, Addinsall and Coulson have each spoken to 10 or more clubs in recent weeks with the Suns’ rivals sensing they could snare one of their prized academy players if the price becomes too high for them to match.
It is why Gold Coast is open to moving further back in the draft to accrue more points, with the likes of North Melbourne and Essendon among clubs interested in the Suns’ pick 15.
But with no pick swaps completed on Friday it means any deal will have to be ratified on draft night – and that means more uncertainty for Addinsall, Murray and Coulson.
A hamstring injury in the opening game cruelled Addinsall’s national championships but he returned to play VFL for the Suns at the end of the season and solidified himself as a bona fide ball-winner and potential first round prospect.
Knowing his name could potentially be called too early to be matched by the Suns, the midfielder joked he had been preparing for an interstate move by doing his own laundry and cooking dinners for the family.
“I got a month out from the draft and I was like ‘oh, this (being drafted interstate) might actually happen’,” Addinsall told Code Sports.
“Jai and I … pretty much every team we have been in it together and sort of always shared the dream of trying to hopefully be on an AFL list so for it to be so close is pretty exciting.
“It’s obviously hard not to think about it – where you end up living in a couple weeks’ time.
“My dream has always been to try and play for the Suns. That would be a dream come true. But I believe that any team that puts their trust in me, that is the team I want to be at.
“There are a fair few talented boys in this age group at the Suns so to get them all will definitely be difficult. It’s not my job which is lucky.
“They (the Suns) said they would like to have me on the list, it just depends on if they have the points for it.
“It’s definitely nerve wracking. I’ve always lived here so it would be different to move, but it’s certainly something I would be excited for as well.”
With his tanned skin and sandy blonde hair Murray looks a quintessential Gold Coaster and would be perfectly suited in a Suns jumper.
He missed the bulk of his draft year with a lisfranc injury in his left foot but the closer draft night gets the more noise builds around the classy midfielder, who could also attract a bid late in the first round or early in the second.
“I think I had 10 (meetings with clubs at the draft combine),” Murray said.
“They are hard to read. I couldn’t tell you to be honest, I can’t read them. They are pretty hard to pick, pretty poker-faced.
“I think they showed some interest and it’s a pretty good feeling, not playing the whole year and still getting interest.”
Big-bodied midfielder Coulson wants to be the next Matt Rowell and would love nothing more than to learn under the Brownlow Medallist from next year.
As would his father, Bruce Coulson, who is the club’s No. 1 ticketholder and a life member.
But again, the reigning Suns Academy Player of the Year has no indication yet of whether he will be living at home or moving in a few weeks’ time.
“Definitely very excited but also a bit nervous not knowing what is going to happen and what is going to fall on draft night,” Coulson said.
“Excited most of all that I am in the situation I am in – there would be heaps of boys out there that would love to be in my position.
“They (the Suns) haven’t said much yet. I think I have a chat with them closer to the draft, they are going to come and see me and my family so yeah, we will find out more then.”
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Originally published as Gold Coast facing challenge to secure Suns Academy stars in draft as rivals circle
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