Will Brodie

AFL trade news: Suns midfielder tipped to depart

“He’ll be looking for more opportunities elsewhere.”

Published by
Mitch Keating

Suns midfielder Will Brodie has been tipped for the exit at Gold Coast come season's end.

According to Fox Sports' Tom Morris, Brodie is set to look for a new club after a prolonged battle to find a spot in Stuart Dew's side across his five seasons at the club.

The 22-year-old has played just the 24 games for the Suns since making his debut in 2017 and now faces a long queue ahead of him in Dew's midfield pecking order.

The former No.9 overall pick has been kept to just four senior games in 2021, with the likes of Touk Miller, Hugh Greenwood and Brandon Ellis holding down the fort in the Suns' engine room.

Young duo Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson are destined to lead the club for the years ahead, while Brayden Fiorini has looked to strengthen his case in the midfield following a 41-disposal game against the Lions on the weekend.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: (L-R) Oleg Markov, Brayden Fiorini and Brandon Ellis of the Suns celebrate during the 2021 AFL Round 16 match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium on July 01, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The growing crop of exciting onballers has placed Brodie out-of-favour in Queensland, with Morris believing the Murray Bushrangers product will look elsewhere at the upcoming exchange window.

“He’s been starved of opportunity, he’s played just five games in the last two year. It’s a certainty in this year’s trade period that he’ll be looking for more opportunities elsewhere and the Suns, a bit like Peter Wright last year, will be happy to facilitate that,” he said.

“The real key question for Will Brodie is are any clubs interested in him? He‘s a good player inside, he’s a big body, but if no clubs are interested in him he’ll have to be at the Gold Coast Suns next year.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Will Brodie of the Suns marks during the 2017 AFL round 23 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval on August 26, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)

“It feels like in many ways Stuart Dew has stamped his papers.”

Essendon have shown interest in Brodie's services in the past, however now look to have a greater focus on the midfield talent within their own four walls, recently re-signing star trio Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett and Jake Stringer to new deals.

Brodie has averaged 18.5 possessions, 4.4 tackles and 3.8 clearances per game across his career with the Suns.

Published by
Mitch Keating