AFL 2022: Gold Coast top-10 pick Jack Bowes up for grabs in trade period as Suns look to shed salary cap space

A third Gold Coast player could be on the move, with Izak Rankine and Brayden Fiorini already expected to be elsewhere in 2023.

Contracted Sun Jack Bowes could join a new club in this year’s trade period. Picture: Getty Images

Top-10 pick Jack Bowes is the latest Sun who could be on the move.

It’s believed Bowes, who is contracted for two more seasons, has told Gold Coast he wants to explore his options elsewhere after playing only five senior games this year.

Rival clubs are aware the 24-year-old defender is up for grabs.

Star forward Izak Rankine has requested a trade home to South Australia to play for the Crows, while Brayden Fiorini could be a Magpie next season in a salary dump move.

Moving on from Bowes would also help the Suns’ cap situation and they are not expected to stand in his way.

St Kilda’s Ben Long is set to join Gold Coast on a four-year deal as an instant half-back replacement after Lachie Weller, Wil Powell and Connor Budarick suffered ACL setbacks.

Brayden Fiorini may join Collingwood in the trade period. Picture: Getty Images

They also inquired about Western Bulldogs free agent Jason Johannisen but Long’s commitment means the 2016 Norm Smith medallist is more likely to remain at the Kennel.

Cairns-raised Bowes fell out of favour at Gold Coast this year, making his only senior appearances between rounds 14 and 18, compared to 12 matches at VFL level.

He suffered a shoulder injury at training in January that required surgery and sidelined him for three months.

Bowes was one of the Suns’ four top-10 picks in the 2016 draft, along with Ben Ainsworth, Jack Scrimshaw and Will Brodie.

Scrimshaw and Brodie now play for Hawthorn and Fremantle, respectively, while Ainsworth inked a new two-year deal in April to remain at Gold Coast until the end of the 2024 season.

The initial plan was to integrate Bowes into the Suns’ midfield rotation this year but he remained in a defensive role. He has played 83 games in six seasons.

Melbourne’s Toby Bedford has interest from various clubs. Picture: Getty Images

Gold Coast joins the Giants and Magpies as clubs keen to shed salaries in the trade period after the AFL gave the green light for more salary dump deals that are common in overseas sports.

GWS is set to part with Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper (Richmond), Bobby Hill (Collingwood) and Tanner Bruhn in moves that could fix an annual problem but that will be a talent drain.

Bruhn is leaning towards requesting a trade to Geelong but also has interest from North Melbourne.

The Giants join West Coast, Essendon and the Kangaroos in trying to lure Toby Bedford from the Demons, who have presented him with a contract offer.

The Magpies are preparing to transform their list despite a sizzling run to the preliminary finals.

Brodie Grundy (Melbourne) and Ollie Henry (Geelong) could both be in new colours in 2023, while Fiorini, Hill, Billy Frampton, Dan McStay, Tom Mitchell and Sam Hayes may all be incoming.