AFL 2024: Gold Coast Suns set to table Mac Andrew a contract in excess of eight years

Gold Coast has tabled a mammoth deal to rising AFL talent Mac Andrew in a bid to fend off rivals looking to lure him away from the Suns. Discover how much the club is willing to pay and how long the deal is here.

Rising Gold Coast key position AFL talent Mac Andrew is set to be rewarded with a monster long-term contract extension to keep him at the Suns.

It is understood that the Suns are set to table Andrew a deal in excess of eight years worth over $1 million per season.

Andrew is already contracted until the end of 2025 and such a deal would stave off circling Victorian clubs, four of which have already inquired about the possibility of bringing Andrew south on long-term contracts.

Mac Andrew of the Suns kicks the ball during the round 24 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Gold Coast Suns at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on August 24, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

It is understood despite the lure of strong family ties in Melbourne, Andrew is happy at the Suns and has a desire to build a life for himself on the Gold Coast long-term, something the Suns are happy to accommodate.

Andrew enjoys playing under coach Damien Hardwick and believes the club is headed in the right direction despite a disappointing finish to the 2024 season.

“Now with ‘Dimma’ it feels like a whole new club, I feel like everyone’s a lot more connected, he’s made the club a much more open space,” Andrew said of the Suns to this masthead in July.

Mac Andrew solidified is AFL stardom when he kicked the winning goal after the siren against Essendon in round 22 Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images.

“I feel like I’m connecting with the staff a lot. You need to have that connection with everyone in the football club to challenge for premierships and build sustained success.

“Now over the past couple of years you see player retention and players wanting to stay … I know I want to stay and play under him (Damien Hardwick) for the rest of my career.

“I’m loving it up here (on the Gold Coast), I really enjoy it, you can’t complain, it’s good weather all year. I’ve made a home up here for myself and have a good crew that I hang out with everyday.”

Andrew has established himself as one on of the brightest key position talents in the AFL, after making a name for himself as a key defender before swinging forward late in the season with great success. Andrew kicked three goals against West Coast in round 21 and followed it up with four goals against Essendon a week later in a haul which included a matchwinning goal after the siren.

The Suns had been in finals contention for much of this year but struggled away from home and wound up 13th on the ladder with an 11-12 win-loss record.