Harley Bennell Deal
After announcing on Monday 7 September that the club would be cutting ties with Harley Bennell following another off-field indiscretion, Gold Coast brokered a deal with Fremantle on the second day of the trade period.
The SUNS received the Dockers first round (pick No. 16) and second round (pick No. 35) selections in exchange for Bennell and Gold Coast’s second round selection (pick No. 22).
Despite being linked to a handful of clubs, Fremantle emerged as the sole suitor for the West Australian and they got their man early in the trade period.
Zac Smith Deal
After falling behind Tom Nicholls in the ruck hierarchy at Metricon Stadium in 2015, Zac Smith requested a trade to Geelong in order to gain greater opportunity at senior level.
On Monday, the SUNS traded the inaugural player to the Cats in exchange for two of Geelong’s third round picks – No. 49 and No. 53.
Smith played 65 for Gold Coast across five seasons, but managed only 11 senior games this year as Nicholls grasped the No. 1 ruck mantle, leaving the Queensland product to toil in the NEAFL.
Dan Currie Deal
Prior to the exchange period, and the knowledge Zac Smith would not be at the club in 2016, the SUNS identified a number of potential replacements to support and challenge Tom Nicholls and mature-aged rookie Keegan Brooksby. Enter North Melbourne’s Dan Currie.
The 26-year-old joined Gold Coast in exchange for pick No. 53 – the selection acquired in the Smith deal to Geelong.
Currie has spent the last three seasons at the Kangaroos after a previous stint at Sydney. With North Melbourne boasting the premier ruckman in the competition in the form of All Australian Todd Goldstein, Currie battled for opportunities at Arden Street, managing just four senior games during his time there.
Charlie Dixon Deal
The Charlie Dixon deal was always going to be one of the biggest of this year’s trade period and as expected wasn’t finalised until the second week of negotiations. In the end, Richmond got involved to get the deal over the line.
Gold Coast relinquished Dixon and pick No. 49 to Port Adelaide, along with pick No. 19 to Richmond. In return, the SUNS received pick No. 10 and a second round pick in next year’s draft – both from Port Adelaide. And from Richmond, Gold Coast also collected pick No. 31 in this year’s draft, as well as a second round pick in the 2016 draft.
So, to simplify things, the deal netted the SUNS pick No. 10 and three second round selections – one this year and two next year.
Melbourne Pick Exchange Deal
The introduction of trading future picks this year prompted Gold Coast to think outside the box during the trade period. This option prompted the SUNS to broker a deal with Melbourne to spread Gold Coast’s selections over this year and next year’s drafts.
In the deal with the Demons, Gold Coast sent pick No. 3 and No. 10, as well as pick No. 43 to AAMI Park, in exchange for pick No. 6 and No. 29, along with Melbourne’s first round pick in the 2016 draft.
Gold Coast’s decision to invest in next year’s draft pool, again, is down to a number reasons. One includes the club has several academy prospects they can secure with a sufficient amount of points, and the second being the on-going reporting that next year’s draft is much stronger than this years so they should be able to yield a better player in the first round next year, than this year.
This carefully thought out process is complex, but only because it is a new theory. In years to come, the exchanging of picks to accumulate points for academy players and to net picks for future drafts will become the norm.
Matt Rosa Deal
Following two technical deals, the SUNS went back to basics to acquire experienced West Coast midfielder Matt Rosa.
Gold Coast identified a need to secure the services of a specialist wingman and that’s precisely what they have obtained in the 28-year-old.
The SUNS desire to bring in more experience to their list, along with someone renowned for their professionalism were also factors in luring Rosa across the country after more than a decade in Perth.
Fremantle Pick Exchange Deal
In the dying stages of the trade period, The Gold Coast SUNS swapped draft selections with Fremantle in a deal that will see the SUNS secure a fourth second round selection at the 2016 draft.
Gold Coast has secured selection 56 in the 2015 draft and Fremantle’s second round future pick in the 2016 draft. This trade means the GC SUNS hold the second round future picks of Fremantle, Port Adelaide and Richmond, as well as the Melbourne’s first round future pick in 2016.
In return Fremantle have received selections 35 & 61 in this year’s draft.
Summary
IN
Matt Rosa
Dan Currie
Selections 6, 16, 29, 56
2016 Future Selections - Rnd 1 (Melbourne), Rnd 2 (Fremantle) Rnd 2 (Port Adelaide), Rnd 2 (Richmond)
OUT
Harley Bennell
Charlie Dixon
Zac Smith
Selections - 3, 19, 22, 43, 61
The club holds selections 6, 16, 29 & 56 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft to be held in Adelaide in November.
