Gold Coast preparing to match bids for Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson inside AFL Draft’s top four
It’s fair to say there is a push for clubs to pay full price for their academy and father-son products in this year’s draft – so when will rivals make the call? Here’s the latest.
Gold Coast is prepared to match a pair of bids for its academy stars within the first four selections as it works on draft-night trades to secure as many as five local prodigies.
The Suns are aware that with the heightened focus on perceived northern academy advantages, rival clubs are likely to force teams to pay full tote odds for their new draft stars.
Clubs also believe the AFL is keen for teams with academy or father selections to pay a fair price for them after previous years where players like Nick Daicos drifted to the No. 4 overall selection.
Suns academy star Zeke Uwland could be bid on by West Coast as early as pick two, as the Eagles also ponder how early to bid on Carlton’s Harry Dean.
Uwland has huge potential as a classy wingman with elite skills, even if injury prevented him from dominating his top-age year.
Pacy halfback Dylan Patterson is likely to be bid on by Richmond at around pick four given the Tigers are also looking for pace and rate the lightning fast Queenslander that highly.
The Suns would match bids for both those players, while also hoping they slip down the order several spots to allow them to retain more points as they try to secure first-rounder Beau Addinsall.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick will also be keen to secure Koby Coulson and Jai Murray as academy draftees, aware the club’s stocks of academy picks next year are much weaker.
The Suns currently have draft picks 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36, 52 but clubs including North Melbourne and Essendon are keen to move up the draft order and have their sights on pick 15.
Essendon has picks 21, 27 and 30 (as well as picks 5 and 6), while the Roos have picks 25 and 26 and are keen to get back into the first round after trading away their 2025 first-rounder to Richmond.
Coulson is a strong bodied inside midfielder and Murray is a running defender or midfielder whose season was curtailed by a foot injury.
The Suns will add to their trade haul after securing Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Christian Petracca as they attempt to improve upon their semi-final finish.
Ugle-Hagan has been training strongly with the Suns and has temporarily moved in with coach Hardwick early in his time on the Gold Coast.
The pair have been bonding and working on their relationship, with Ugle-Hagan to soon join former Dogs defender Jarrod Harbrow in a more permanent living arrangement.
Harbrow is the club’s indigenous welfare manager and will work closely with Ugle-Hagan and the AFL on his management plan in an attempt to maximise his potential.
The Suns are optimistic that they can make good progress on a new deal for free agent Ben King across summer.
While that deal might take some time King has repeatedly stated that he wants to stay on the Gold Coast.
The Suns are extremely confident they will secure his commitment with their decision to overlook Charlie Curnow’s trade interest an indicator of that optimism.
If they had known King was likely to return to Melbourne they would have gone harder to make Curnow a priority rather than giving up elite picks including pick 7 and 8 for Petracca.
Originally published as Gold Coast preparing to match bids for Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson inside AFL Draft’s top four
‘Whatever it takes’: McGuane lands in SA for shot at AFL dream
