Adelaide Crows show interest in Gold Coast forward Malcolm Rosas as Jack Lukosius trade gains momentum
Alex Neal-Bullen wants to get to Adelaide and things are lining up for the Crows in their pursuit of Jack Lukosius. And, now, another Gold Coast forward is in the trade mix.
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Adelaide could have a forward line unrecognisable to the front six that took the field for much of the year with the Crows registering interest in Gold Coast’s Malcolm Rosas in recent days.
The clever and pacy goal sneak is contracted to 2025 but has been told to assess his options at the Suns as they clear cap space, and could join Alex Neal-Bullen and potentially current Gold Coast teammate Jack Lukosius at the Crows.
Half a dozen clubs are believed to be keen on Rosas, given his dynamic form, with clubs keen on small pressuring forwards.
Neal-Bullen has been Adelaide-bound for some time but officially nominated the Crows as his club of choice this week as the Demons attempt to secure a quality pick for the hard-running half forward.
He is not only an exceptional character but he does a power of work surging up and back and will help the Adelaide forward line function.
Speaking on Triple M after he finalised his deal to stay at West Lakes in 2025, Adelaide talisman Taylor Walker said Neal-Bullen would be a big addition for the Crows.
“We know he’s a great footballer and the thing I’m looking forward to is the leadership and experience he brings and the experience because we probably lacked a little bit of that the last few years,” he said.
“He’ll be a great addition to the footy club once we can get that done.”
The Crows have Melbourne’s second round pick this year, which is currently No. 25 in the draft.
That came when forward Shane McAdam moved to the Demons at the end of last year, spurning an offer from the Crows.
Adelaide is one of a number of interested parties for the services of Suns forward Lukosius, who is understood to have a back-ended contract that has two more years to run.
It is understood Lukosius is on $850,000 this season but his deal hits between $950,000-$1 million a season in the next two years, given the back-ended nature of the contract.
The Crows would need to give up a quality pick for his services – the Suns are adamant they will not consider any trade that does not involve a first-round pick.
Adelaide is extremely keen on luring him to the Crows but Lukosius is still happy to stay at the Gold Coast so will need to be convinced of why he should move on.
As revealed by The Advertiser, the club has made its play for Lukosius with coach Matthew Nicks meeting with the 26-year-old on the Gold Coast earlier this month.
But the Crows have ample cap space and they would have some leverage in the discussion if he chose Adelaide given their capacity to absorb his salary.
There is a belief at West Lakes that the former No. 2 pick could thrive as a connecting higher forward, such as the role Tom Lynch played when he was at the Crows.
The Power has also met Lukosius but it is keen on GWS pair Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming and have to strike a trade for All Australian defender Dan Houston.
Houston is keen to get back to Melbourne, so it remains to be seen if the Power has the cap space for Lukosius’s wage.
But given his talent, the Power will make sure it is at least in the conversation for the good friend of Port captain Connor Rozee, and a Houston deal could yield the picks required.
Rosas kicked 19 goals from 19 games last year and 12 goals from seven games at an impressive strike rate this year but played plenty of VFL football as he came back from a hamstring injury.
While he is well set in Queensland, with his partner in a new job, clubs see his considerable upside as he looks for a new home.
The Crows would look to push Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele up the ground if they secured Rosas and Neal-Bullen and will also believe they can keep Riley Thilthorpe on the park for the full season.
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