Leigh Matthews cold on Suns bid for Kurt Tippett

AFL legend Leigh Matthews believes the Gold Coast will be taking a big risk if they pay a huge sum for injury prone Kurt Tippett.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews believes the Gold Coast will be taking a big risk if they pay a huge sum for injury prone Kurt Tippett.

Matthews had no doubt the Suns and Brisbane Lions were both going after the power forward but questioned whether it was the right choice, with Tippett sustaining three bouts of concussion since round 15, and not having played a full game for five weeks.

Adelaide legend Mark Ricciuto on Monday declared Tippett was "more than a 90 per cent chance" to leave the Crows at the end of the season and felt moving back home to the Gold Coast was his preferred option.

The 202cm Tippett has kicked 30 goals for the Crows this season despite being hampered by three bouts of concussion in the past five weeks.

"A player like that, it is still going to be a big investment out of your salary cap so the fact he has had a few concussion issues would be a worry and a nagging doubt in my mind," Matthews said. "It might not stop you but it would be a nagging little doubt."

Matthews said a club would need to be confident of Tippett's health before forking out a high six-figure sum per year.

"You're talking $700,000 or $800,000-plus investment (a year) so you would like everything to be hunky-dory and the little concussion stuff hasn't been an ideal thing."

Matthews conceded players such as Tippett were vital to winning premierships.

"It's been a long time since the premiership has been won without a reasonable key forward," Matthews said.

"Geelong showed you can win premierships without great key forwards but you have to be terribly good in other areas of the ground.

"Tippett is a goal-kicking big forward who can fill the second ruck position. He is the ideal player for modern footy.

"If Kurt wants to come back to Queensland, clearly the Suns and Brisbane would both be very interested.

"The (Suns) haven't got a proven, mature good forward yet and everybody is looking to have one or two good, mature strong-marking forwards."

Contract talks between Tippett and Adelaide have stalled in recent weeks, leaving the Crows management concerned about keeping the 25-year-old next season.

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft refused to reveal whether Tippett's run of concussions would influence their decision to chase him.

"Like all players we bring to the club we do a rigorous review of their physical and mental side of things," he said.

Suns need leading forward to come home

HAVING missed out on snaring Kurt Tippett for their first two seasons, the Gold Coast are set to make a huge three-year offer to entice the Crows star home.

Suns coach Guy McKenna has pinpointed the need for a leading forward to complement the midfield exploits of Gary Ablett.

With Sam Day and Tom Lynch still at least two years from filling that role, Tippett would be the perfect solution.

Poaching laws forbid clubs speaking directly with players until their contracts have ended but it is understood the Suns have spoken to Tippett's management group.

Crows legend Mark Ricciuto, who fears Tippett is heading north, has urged his former club to go after South Australian products Day and Daniel Gorringe in return.

But Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the Suns were determined to keep the pair.