Port Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch could play key role in revival of Gold Coast Suns, with Jake Neade, Karl Amon and Chad Wingard also in trade discussions
PORT Adelaide players are drawing interest in the preliminary talks to the AFL trade period, in particular defender Jack Hombsch who could move to Gold Coast to help the Suns rebuild their football program.
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PORT Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch could be part of the major reshaping of Gold Coast’s on-field image in this month’s AFL trade period.
The Suns have moved to seek 25-year-old Hombsch to do far more than just cover the potential loss of co-captain Steven May, who is destined to make a trade move to Collingwood before falling into free agency at the end of next season.
Hombsch, who already has experienced the challenges of setting up a new team’s culture with Greater Western Sydney in 2011-12, also offers the Suns much-needed sound character and leadership in the clubhouse.
This is critical for novice coach Stuart Dew as he deals with the task of creating Gold Coast Mark II to correct the major failings from the first eight AFL seasons of the Queensland-based franchise.
Homsbch’s interest from the Gold Coast will be a key plank in Port Adelaide’s activity when it opens trade talks at Etihad Stadium on Monday.
Hombsch has become — after 89 games in six seasons at Alberton — excess to needs at Port Adelaide where the Power defence has become built around Tom Jonas, Dougal Howard and Tom Clurey and has found new depth with the rise of Riley Bonner, Darcy Byrne-Jones and rookie-listed Jarrod Lienert.
The Power defence also is to regain the experience of Hamish Hartlett as he makes a strong recovery from a knee injury.
Small forward JAKE NEADE is holding attention from Collingwood and North Melbourne.
Midfielder-forward KARL AMON is looking at options from St Kilda and Hawthorn as he seeks a return to Victoria to be closer to his family.
Experienced defender JASPER PITTARD, who ignored free agency in 2017, is looking at serving out the remaining two seasons on his three-year contract at Alberton.
Defender MATTHEW BROADBENT is unable to draw suitors as the market takes a cautious view after he was unable to play an AFL game this season because of an ankle injury.
Midfielder JARED POLEC is definitely moving to North Melbourne with a $3.5 million, five-year deal that delivers Port Adelaide a first-round draft pick. The finer details of the trade are still in the making as the Kangaroos look to shuffle other draft picks with the Power.
Midfielder-forward CHAD WINGARD is still in limbo, but increasingly likely to stay at Port Adelaide as no AFL club moves to meet Wingard’s wish for a $1 million-a-year salary and the Power’s price of two first-round draft picks.
It is most likely Wingard will play out his contract at Alberton next year and then fall to free agency with his form in season 2019 to determine if there can be a big-salary offer in 12 months’ time.
West Coast premiership ruckman SCOTT LYCETT will move to Port Adelaide — where he played SANFL football with the Magpies — as a free agent. This market opens on Friday.
The Eagles are highly unlikely to block Lycett, who is a restricted free agent. Clubs need only match rival offers to hold restricted free agents.
The AFL trade period opens on Monday and closes with player swaps at 8.30pm on Wednesday, October 17.
For the first time, the trade period for swapping draft picks will continue until Friday, November 16 leading to the new two-day draft on November 23-24.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au