By Niall Seewang and Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS have won the rights to exciting West Australian youngster Jack Martin after trading its second pick in the NAB AFL Draft for the No.1 selection of the GWS mini-draft.

Through the same drafting mechanism that saw the SUNS draft Jaeger O'Meara last year, Martin will join the club a year ahead of being able to debut in 2014.

Martin, a classy goal kicking midfielder, excelled for Western Australia during the NAB AFL Under-18 championships.

Most recruiters believe Martin is on par with likely No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield, and his acquisition will be a major boost for the SUNS.

"We get a great young kid who'll come in, develop through the NEAFL next year, then be ready to go hopefully in round one, 2014," Gold Coast SUNS general manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft told AFL.com.au's Trade Radio.

The SUNS and Giants have also exchanged compensations picks, which will see Gold Coast SUNS gain a compensation pick that can be used through until the 2015 draft.

Ashcroft said the acquisition of underage players O'Meara and Martin in the past two years helped to spread the age of their young list out.

There's no question we want to rise up the ladder as quickly as we can, but at the same time we need to look at the future and by spreading our age ... the planning has been exceptional, he said.

Gold Coast SUNS highest pick in the NAB AFL Draft is now No. 25, but Ashcroft indicated the SUNS would look to hop up the pecking order during the Gillette AFL Trade Period.

He said departing midfielder Josh Caddy was worth a first round pick, while young ruckman Tom Hickey had indicated he wanted to be dealt to St Kilda.

"He has, he's spoken about that. We need to sit down and see if we can facilitate something with Tom," Ashcroft said.

We'd all like to get things done sooner rather than later, but with the trade period lasting three weeks it can tend to drag out, but we'll wait and see.

"We'll do our best to get as much as we can. It's what's best for the footy club and if we can do that, we'll be happy."