Gold Coast’s length of contract and impending rebuild is why Hugh Greenwood wants to become a Sun, his manager says
Hugh Greenwood has told the Adelaide that he wants to move to the Gold Coast, with the lure of a longer contract and to be part of its rebuild. And the Suns have their eyes on another star Crows midfielder, but say Jack Lukosius won’t be used as trade bait.
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Hugh Greenwood has told the Adelaide Crows that he wants to move to the Gold Coast Suns, with the lure of a longer contract and to be part of its rebuild key.
And the Suns’ list manager Craig Cameron has for the first time publicly said Gold Coast have contacted the manager of Crows star Brad Crouch.
But Cameron said when he does contact his Adelaide counterparts it will first be about securing Greenwood because the Suns’ “are not far enough advanced with his (Crouch’s) manager to have that conversation” around what would be a stunning trade.
Greenwood, who came to Adelaide as a Category B rookie from basketball, arrived back in Australia on Tuesday after a holiday in America.
Soon after the touching down in Australia, the Crows announced the 27-year-old big-bodied midfielder/forward’s intention to continue his AFL career at the Suns.
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“The club is committed to securing an appropriate outcome for both parties and will work closely with Greenwood and his management team during the upcoming trade period,” the Crows said.
Speaking after the Crows announcement Cameron said he believed Greenwood would be a big asset for the Suns’ budding midfield.
“We have a young team, he is a mature big-bodied mid,” Cameron said on AFL Trade Radio.
“He can also slide forward, he gives us an ability to have a hard body inside and protect some of our younger guys.”
Greenwood’s manager Michael Oakes said the lure of an up-to four-year deal with the Suns was key.
Oakes also said he had discussions with Brisbane and Hawthorn regarding Greenwood’s future, but the security the Suns were offering Greenwood was key.
“It’s always been the security of a longer term deal (for Greenwood),” Oakes said.
“It has never been about the money, it is about the length of the deal.”
Greenwood joined the Crows as a Category B rookie having left NBL side the Perth Wildcats to pursue an AFL career.
He played 51 games for the Crows in the AFL.
Oakes also said Greenwood was excited about joining the Suns as it embarked on a significant rebuild on and off the field, having already secured Richmond premiership player Brandon Ellis.
“Hugh wants the ability to go to a club and be born again,” Oakes told AFL Trade Radio said.
“Being a part of something that is really going to grow.”
Greenwood may not be the only Crow to make the move to the Gold Coast this trade period, with Cameron revealing the Suns had sounded out Crouch’s management company W Sport and Media
“We’ve had some conversations with his manager as I’m sure other clubs have had,” Cameron said.
“There is some interest but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge.
“It’s certainly a healthy view (what Crouch’s management believe he is worth) of his financial position but I would say it is not unrealistic.
“I haven’t spoken to Adelaide at all about Brad … because we are not far enough advanced with his manager to have that conversation at this point.
“Our first conversation with Adelaide will be about Hugh Greenwood and hopefully we have that in the next couple of days.”
The Advertiser has revealed that Crouch, 25, wants a five-year deal to remain at West Lakes.
He is the favourite to win his first Malcolm Blight Medal as the Crows’ best-and-fairest this season, following recovering from a horror foot injury that ruled him out of all of 2018.
If the Crows do make the shock decision to trade Crouch to the Suns, then they would be able to ask for the No. 1 and 2 draft picks with Cameron saying they were “not off the table” although it would “take something extraordinary” to convince Gold Coast to part with them.
But Cameron said 2018 No. 2 draft pick and SA young gun Jack Lukosius would not be traded from the Suns this year.
It has been suggested that his brother Matt could be included in a trade package, but on his Triple M Breakfast show Crows football director Mark Ricciuto said the siblings were
“required players at the Adelaide Football Club”.
“They’re contracted players and important players to the football club,” he said.
Josh Jenkins is being linked with a move to Collingwood, with his time at West Lakes all but at an end, but any deal to the Pies would be dependent on the Crows taking a hit on his big salary.