Trade HQ: Check out all the big list calls Gold Coast faces this off-season

There is a lot of speculation this will be Jack Martin’s final year at the Gold Coast. But the Suns won’t just be selling during the trade period. They’ve got targets of their own.

Jack Martin is the biggest Sun on the trade radar. Picture: AAP Images

The Gold Coast player I am most interested in this off-season is Jack Martin.

There has been plenty of speculation he wants out of the club and if that is true, the Suns need to make any potential trade work for them.

Initially, I thought that was with two good draft picks. But now I think the Suns need experienced players.

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They can’t keep losing kids after spending years developing them. They need legitimate AFL talent.

While he probably hasn’t lived up to his potential, Martin certainly has star upside and I’m not letting that walk out the door without a good return.

If the Suns can turn him into two good young players, which gives them that little bit of extra depth, then it is potentially a win-win.

While they currently reside in the AFL doldrums, I don’t think it is all doom and gloom for the Gold Coast.

Jack Martin is a man in demand. Picture: Getty Images

The hardest thing to do when undertaking a full list rebuild is nailing the key position picks. Ben King and Jack Lukosius look like rippers and when you couple them with Peter Wright, Sam Collins and Jarrod Witts, there is a nucleus to work with.

Sam Day is an interesting one. He has been stuck in the NEAFL until recently and there is clearly something Stuart Dew wants to see in his game before he is a regular in the seniors.

Given his build and ability to play ruck-forward, he could be looking to move on at the end of the season.

While the talent is there, the Suns’ depth is a real worry once you look beyond their top 28 players.

They brought in the likes of Anthony Miles, Jordan Murdoch, George Horlin-Smith and Corey Ellis in the off-season to try and address that. The best thing about these guys is that they’ve all come from good clubs and know what it takes to instil a good culture.

The question now is, will they consider getting an even bigger name like Brisbane did with Luke Hodge?

Jarryd Roughead is the one who sticks out, and his knowledge and forward craft would be worth its weight in gold for Stuart Dew’s young key position players.

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THREE SUNS PLAYERS RIVAL RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING:

Jack Martin

Will he stay or will he go? The answer seems to change every month and apparently so does the interest of rival suitors. Martin is the Gold Coast’s most talented and versatile player but he has not reached the superstar status he is capable of.

Callum Ah Chee

Another season ending injury has come at the wrong time for the out of contact Sun. If he wanted a move elsewhere his asking price has likely been affected while Gold Coast are playing hardball on all players at the moment to build the war chest needed to retain their 2018 top ten draft picks.

Sam Day

The big bodied key position player is another who has been asked to take a pay cut. He was out of favour for half a year but showed on his return to the seniors he is clearly in their best 22. He loves Queensland and may decide to stay but other clubs are watching this space closely.

Sam Day had to work hard to get back in the Suns’ team. Picture: AAP Images

THREE PLAYERS SUNS RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING:

Stephen Hill

Gold Coast have openly admitted their interest in Stephen Hill. The Suns believe they need more skilful outside players and have identified the classy Docker as a priority. Should they lose either of Ah Chee or Martin the need would intensify.

Isaac Smith

Triple premiership Hawk Isaac Smith is another running ball user on the radar. The Suns put great stock into the environments their recruits come from and what those experiences can add to their side. It is why guys like George Horlin-Smith (Geelong) and Anthony Miles (Richmond) were targeted.

Tom Nicholls

Pick a disgruntled back-up ruckman around the competition and you can bet the Suns are looking at him. Tom Nicholls is out of contract and it appears both player and club realise it is time to part company.

Stephen Hill would be a perfect fit at the Suns. Picture: AAP Images

RATE THE 2018 TRADE PERIOD

You couldn’t give a pass mark to a trade period that saw two captains walk out the door. Steven May and Tom Lynch may have endured rocky starts at their new clubs but they are still elite players who left a massive hole with their departure. The majority of the new faces at the Suns came through the draft. From delisted free agents and AFL special assistance rules but they were active in the trade period also. The big win came with the arrival of Jack Hombsch for a future fourth round draft pick. He will finish in the top ten of the best and fairest and has been a great pickup. Anthony Miles was also a bargain buy and he plays every week. However, this comes with the disclaimer that he was brought in to replace Jarryd Lyons who is having a better season. Corey Ellis and George Horlin-Smith have not really added much yet.

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