AFL trade period explained: Why Gold Coast Suns’ pick 13 holds the key to unlocking several deals

Gold Coast holds the keys to another AFL Trade Period as the opening day of official dealing approaches, with its first-round pick set to shape the fates of several clubs — and key players.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 26: Dan Houston of the Power and Ben Ainsworth of the Suns during the 2022 AFL Round 15 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Gold Coast Suns at the Adelaide Oval on June 26, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

For the third year running Gold Coast’s sale of a draft pick could sway the trade period, with

Dan Houston caught in the cross hairs.

In the last two silly seasons, the Suns have sold out picks inside the top 11 in three separate trades, last year doing so to set themselves for academy talent.

Again in 2024, Gold Coast is readying itself for academy teen Leo Lombard and keen to shift off its lucky pick 13 when the trade period begins on Monday.

Dan Houston may have his future defined by the Gold Coast. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

The choice – formerly known as pick 12 before Josh Battle’s free agency compensation pushed it back on Friday – is being swarmed by clubs.

The Suns would ideally shift the pick so it is not swallowed up when a bid comes for Lombard on draft night.

Carlton has indicated it wants to hold on to its own first-round pick – which now sits at 12 – but will need a juicy selection to make Port Adelaide answer the phone about Houston.

Houston wants to get to the Blues and play for a premiership contender on his return to Victoria but if Carlton can’t stump up with either 12 or 13, the Power likely wont open the door.

As this masthead reported on Friday, Collingwood has also been eyeing Houston and the baker’s dozen Suns pick.

Leo Lombard at the draft combine. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

In an ideal black-and-white world, the Pies would get No.13 in the deal that sends John Noble up north, in which case Collingwood would have to send a decent pick with Noble.

The Magpies’ first choice in this year’s draft currently sits at No.36.

Like the Blues, the Pies would barely get a meeting about a Houston trade if they weren’t holding a pick in the top 15.

North Melbourne could comfortably get a Houston deal done without the Gold Coast pick.

Others keen to move up include GWS, who now holds picks 15, 16 and 21 thanks to a healthy dose of free agency compensation on Friday.

Sydney holds picks 19 and 22, while Melbourne has shown a keenness to get another good look at the draft after its own No.5 choice.

This is all very familiar territory for Gold Coast.

Last year, the Suns got out of pick four, sending it to the Western Bulldogs with later picks for a package of picks 10, 17 and a future first.

That future first is now the pick 13 that clubs are salivating over.

And the No.4 pick was eventually eased back to No.6 and used by the Dogs on talented onballer Ryley Sanders.

Jack Bowes was caught in the 2022 Gold Coast sale. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Also last year, Gold Coast moved pick 11 to Melbourne for 14, 27 and 25.

The Dees used that selection on Koltyn Tholstrup.

Those two moves helped the Suns accumulate enough draft points to pluck four academy talents – Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham – inside the top 26 picks on draft night.

In different circumstances, Gold Coast’s 2022 No.7 pick was equally desired to this year’s choice.

Then it was Geelong who swooped on pick 7 and Jack Bowes in a salary dump for a future third rounder.

The Cats did enough to convince Bowes the Cattery was the right place for him and collected a starting calibre midfielder in the former Sun then used No.7 on local midfielder Jhye Clark.

Originally published as AFL trade period explained: Why Gold Coast Suns’ pick 13 holds the key to unlocking several deals