Gold Coast Suns forward Charlie Dixon hot property as rival AFL clubs home in

GOLD Coast have bumped up an offer to Charlie Dixon as rival clubs including Carlton, Geelong and Brisbane circle the in-demand big man.

GOLD Coast have bumped up an offer to Charlie Dixon as rival clubs circle the in-demand big man.

Carlton and Geelong have made inquiries about the 21-year-old Queenslander while Brisbane would also be interested if he came on the market at the end of the year.

It is understood earlier in the year Dixon rejected a one-year deal from the Suns he and his management team believed under-valued him and backed himself to prove to the club he was worth more.

The Suns took a deliberate strategy of stocking up on ruckmen when they built their inaugural list knowing they were a rare commodity and would be of the greatest trade value at the end of their second year in the competition.

Dixon is one of the most sought after out-of-contract players at the Suns but football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the club was desperate to keep him.

"He has elevated himself over the past few months," Ashcroft said.

"He can play forward, back and in the ruck and we think he is going pretty well.

"He's been with us from the start, we rate him highly and we'd like to have him locked away for longer."

Last week Dixon played at centre-half back, which further increases his versatility and value.

But he remains best suited to playing as a ruckman or as a key forward and second ruckman.

He provides a touch of aggression, is desperate at ground level and is more than handy bashing and crashing with the bigger bodies in the league.

AFL rules dictate the Suns must reduce their expanded start-up list from 46 to 42 players for next year and also create room to make the mandatory three selections in this year's draft, which includes the elevation of pre-listed teenager Jaegar O'Meara to the senior list.