By Peter Ryan 

Gold Coast SUNS manager Marcus Ashcroft has told Gillette AFL Trade Radio on Friday that 20-year-old Josh Toy's heart condition had no affect on his capacity to perform at AFL level.
 

Ashcroft indicated that Toy's progress has been hampered only by the fact he had not yet had a full pre-season since joining the SUNS.

He said the SUNS became aware of Toy's health issue 12 months ago and he was given the all clear.

It has not affected his footy over the last 12 months we don't think, Ashcroft said.

The SUNS pre-listed the talented Toy as a 17-year-old but he has played just 13 games in two seasons with the club, with his most recent game coming in the round 22 win against Carlton this season.

Despite speculation that Toy would return to Victoria next season his management has said he is yet to make that decision.

The SUNS continue to have an open mind about whether Toy will be with the club or not in 2013.

I think with a full pre-season – we all know he is highly talented, a top five draft pick two or three years ago – so we know he has got the talent, so it is just about getting him conditioned enough to see that talent through, Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft said the club respected young ruckman Tom Hickey's desire to return to Victoria to be with his girlfriend.

St Kilda has shown interest in Hickey and the SUNS are prepared to discuss what options might be available. "We are still keen to keep him on our list going forward but obviously he wants to move home for personal reasons and if St Kilda can provide a suitable trade then we will look at that closely," Ashcroft said.

With the deal for Josh Caddy to join Geelong delivering a concession draft pick to the SUNS, Ashcroft said the club was in a good position to balance the age of their list over the next few seasons.

We have got a compensation pick now in each of the next three years. We'll activate one I would have thought next year and each year up until the end of 2015, Ashcroft said.

He also said that despite interest in young defender Taylor Hine the SUNS were keen to retain him on its list. "We think Taylor came on in leaps and bounds," Ashcroft said.

The club was buoyed today when it secured former Hawthorn defender Tom Murphy has an unrestricted free agent. Ashcroft sung Murphy's praises and said he will add great experience to the club adding value both on and off the field.