AFL draft and trade: Hunt for the Gold Coast Suns’ pick 4 ramps up
It’s the pick so many clubs want and the Suns are happy to trade. Here’s what Damien Hardwick can get out of selection four in the AFL draft plus everything else on Gold Coast’s radar right now.
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The start of Damien Hardwick’s Gold Coast premiership pursuit begins on Monday when the AFL Trade Period opens and all eyes shift to the Suns’ coveted fourth overall draft selection.
It’s public knowledge now that the Suns’ top pick is up for grabs given their need to bank points to successfully bid on as many as four Academy players – Jed Walter, Jake Rogers, Ethan Read and Will Graham – of whom the first three are expected to land in the top 20.
It’s highly likely the Suns part with the No. 4 pick during the 10-day trade window with the Western Bulldogs leading a swag of suitors for the deal.
Moving No. 4 for a cache such as the Bulldogs’ picks No. 10, No. 17 and future first-rounder would arm the Suns nicely to land their four Academy targets.
Moving that first selection is the top priority for the Suns, who will enter the trade and draft period with a three-phase plan to deliver a finals-ready list to Hardwick ahead of Round 1 next season.
FREE AGENCY
Hardwick is unlikely to go headhunting unless a ready-made upgrade lands in his lap.
The triple-premiership coach believes “80 per cent” of the Suns’ maiden premiership list is already on the Gold Coast and his preference is to use the first 12 months of his monster six-year deal to run the rule over which players will be there when the time comes.
The only area of some concern is the rebounding defender stocks, with Lachie Weller set to miss the first half of next season as he recovers from a second ACL injury.
But with the return to fitness of Connor Budarick and growth of Lloyd Johnston the Suns feel they can fill the Weller void until he steps back onto the field.
TRADE PERIOD
Out of favour forward Mabior Chol has interest from a number of clubs and is weighing up a move after limited AFL opportunities at in 2023 and the imminent arrival of Academy star Walter in the draft.
Former first-round pick Elijah Hollands is another on the trade table, with a mooted move to Carlton and reunion with brother Ollie seen as the most likely.
Winger Jeremy Sharp was unused at AFL level last season and could still attract interest from his home state of Western Australia.
Gold Coast likely won’t announce its delistings until after the trade period concludes on October 18.
The Suns plan to go into the draft with five or six list spots open to best utilise the draft capital required to bid on their Academy products.
The retirements of Connor Blakely and Charlie Constable have opened up two spots, while Jed Anderson – having been granted personal leave by the club in June – will also not return next season.
If Chol and Hollands depart for picks that will free up a further two list spots.
With no 2024 deal yet in place for Levi Casboult, club and player could agree to delist the former Blue prior to the draft and add him back after the fact.
NATIONAL DRAFT
Though the No. 4 pick should be long gone, the Suns will plan for further wheeling and dealing on draft night to shore up their points to bid on Walter, Rogers, Read and Graham before turning attention to building a strong hand for 2024.
While Gold Coast needs to bank points for this year’s draft it will be conscious of not over accumulating and essentially wasting picks.
Given the club had five Academy players named in the U16 All-Australian side this year, there’s every chance it finds itself in a similar position in two years’ time.
Thus also begins the future planning to compile a war chest capable of cashing in on further homegrown talent.
Where the club may run into a snag is the current rules around bidding on Academy players.
As it stands, if a team finishes in the top four it can only match one bid inside the top 20.
If a team finishes between fifth and eighth on the ladder, it can match two bids. Miss the finals and you have free reign to match bids.
The silver lining to Gold Coast missing the top eight was that it opened the door to match bids on all four of its Academy players this year.
If Hardwick can deliver on his plan to be a perennial finals contender from next season, then the Suns could hit a snag when its 2025 Academy class hits the draft.
Of course, if the master coach has by then piloted the Suns to back-to-back finals campaigns it might be much less of an issue.
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