With the AFL Trade Period set to commence on Monday, the rumour mill is running rife around the country with a handful of news outlets linking potential moves in and out of the Gold Coast SUNS.
goldcoastfc.com.au will advise fans of any trade as soon as it has been lodged with the AFL, however below is a summary of what media around the country are reporting.
IN’s
Daniel Currie
AFL Media reports that Gold Coast is making a strong play for North Melbourne support ruckman Daniel Currie.
Currie, 201cm, has been even more starved of opportunity over the past three years at Arden Street, stuck behind star ruckman Todd Goldstein.
AFL.com.au understands North would like to keep Currie and has not given up hope of convincing the 26-year-old to stay. But the Roos will not stand in Currie's way if he believes greater senior opportunity beckons at Metricon Stadium.
If Currie joins Gold Coast, it will be his third AFL club.
Paul Seedsman
Gold Coast SUNS General Manager – Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, confirmed on Thursday evening that the club had spoken to Collingwood defender Paul Seedsman about a move north.
"We've spoken to Paul," Ashcroft told SEN on Thursday.
"We've been open with Collingwood about that. They're aware that we've spoken to Paul along with other clubs. We're optimistic."
Jeremy Howe
Ashcroft also confirmed the club’s interest in Melbourne swingman Jeremy Howe.
"We've had a chat with Jeremy. Again, we've been open and transparent with Melbourne and again they're aware of that. We're interested. We think he'd be a valuable acquisition to our footy club."
Howe’s manager, Ben Niall, revealed on Trade Radio on Friday afternoon Howe is more likely to leave the Demons than stay and he had narrowed his decision to three clubs exclusive of Melbourne, one of which is the SUNS.
OUT’s
Harley Bennell
Gold Coast SUNS List Manager, Scott Clayton, is in Melbourne for the annual draft combine and in a scheduled media opportunity said that while the SUNS would work on a deal with Fremantle for Harley Bennell, the club is still seeking the best possible deal for the midfielder.
“As much as he’d like to end up at Fremantle, we’ll certainly work with them. But there’s quite a few opportunities behind that,” Clayton said.
“He’s stated that’s his choice (to go to the Dockers), so it’s more likely. But it’s our job to investigate all possibilities.”
Zac Smith
Clayton also said the SUNS would work with Geelong to negotiatate a suitable deal for ruckman Zac Smith.
“Ruckmen seem to need to play and he thinks he’s parked behind Tom Nicholls at the moment and he wants an opportunity to be the No. 1,” Clayton said.
“Zac’s a founding player of our footy club. We respect him greatly, we’ve loved the work he’s done with us.
“He’ll always be a Gold Coast Suns player, but we understand that, professionally, he’s got to take opportunities when they come and we respect that and he respects our position.”