Gold Coast Suns target mature elite talent in trade deals

GOLD Coast wants a top draft pick and a ready-made star for Jaeger O’Meara and has its sights on at least five other senior players in this year’s trade period.

Hawthorn sharpshooter Luke Breust. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

GOLD Coast wants a top draft pick and a ready-made star for Jaeger O’Meara and has its sights on at least five other senior players in this year’s trade period.

The Suns could be the most active trade player with the club confirming today it is interested in Pearce Hanley, Michael Barlow, Hamish Hartlett, Lin Jong and Jarrod Witts — and they are just the names we know about.

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“We’ve met with many players,” football manager Marcus Ashcroft said today.

“We’ll speak to everyone, I think we’ve got a duty to go as far and wide as we can because we’re on the lookout for some good talent that can come in and have an instant impact next year.”

But he said one player the Suns aren’t interested in is Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt.

Gold Coast has a strong hand in trade deals with six picks in the top 30 on draft night, and could get more for Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia — but neither of those deals is likely to be completed any time soon.

“Both clubs, Hawthorn and Richmond, have approached our players, the way we see it we’ll leave the ball in their court to come back with what they think is a fair trade to get the deal done,” Ashcroft said on Trade Radio, adding the Tigers had not officially offered pick six for Prestia.

Luke Breust has been floated as one player who could help get the O’Meara deal done.

“I’m not going to quantify what we need from Hawthorn and Richmond,” Ashcroft said. “What I will say, though, is we need to get the balance right (between picks and players). We know we need some mature elite talent to come in specifically in the midfield to give us an impact next year ... that’s what we’re after, that’s our focus.”

Gold Coast has not confirmed or denied interest in Luke Breust. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“It (the O’Meara deal) in Hawthorn’s court ... hopefully when they come to us it satisfies our needs.

“There’s a lot of balls in the air with everything, so we’re doing so we’re happy to sit back, continue to talk to managers and clubs, and at the right time finalise trades when we’ve done all the consideration.”

Asked if O’Meara could slip through to the pre-season draft, Ashcroft said: “I guess there’s always that chance and our chairman has stated that publicly, so we’re all waiting to see what they come up with.”

Michael Barlow could get a lifeline at Gold Coast. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He listed five senior players the Suns were interested in, although one, Port Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett, has today decided to stay put.

On the Suns’ other targets, Ashcroft said:

Pearce Hanley: “We’ve met with Pearce and we’ve spoken with his management. We’re focusing on midfielders who can come in and have an instant impact at our footy club and certainly Pearce fits that job description.”

Lin Jong: “We have had some discussions with Lin Jong and his manager, and respectfully we’ve left it at that point until he’s finished off his season with the Western Bulldogs.”

Jarrod Witts: “He’s another one we’ve spoken to, no doubt ... we think he can add some value.”

Michael Barlow: “Again, he fits the job description of a mature-age midfielder. More work needs to be done around where he might fit within our side and whether he’s the age demographic we’re after. Again, we’re having discussions, nothing’s confirmed.”