Gold Coast Suns key forward Mabior Chol appears an available asset this off-season after receiving limited senior opportunity on the Sunshine Coast in 2023.
With former Richmond mentor Damien Hardwick taking the reins as the Suns' new head man, Chol could well be on his way out, with a pair of clubs -- the Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions -- reportedly having shown interest in the left-footer.
While the Crows and Lions have been touted as potential landing spots, they're not the only clubs that could benefit from his possible inclusion.
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Mostly plying his trade in the VFL this year, Chol was a standout for the Suns' reserves, booting 36 goals in 15 games, including an impressive five goals in Gold Coast's preliminary final victory against Box Hill to progress to this weekend's Grand Final.
In his first season with the Suns last year, the ex-Tiger kicked 44 goals in 22 games. Despite that two-goal-per-game campaign, the 26-year-old managed a mere eight senior outings in 2023, having been demoted to the VFL level for the majority of the season.
Chol, stuck behind ex-Blues veteran Levi Casboult and returning staple Ben King, was evidently not a crucial piece in Stuart Dew's plans early in the season. His absence at the senior level was only exemplified by the interim coach Steven King, who, following Dew's dismissal, selected him just twice to conclude the home-and-away season.
With former acquaintance Hardwick now in the fold on the Gold Coast, Chol's playing future at the Suns becomes even murkier, as, at Punt Road, Chol was never a best-22 regular.
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With key-position forwards always presenting as in-demand commodities, could Chol be on the move to bigger and better things in 2024? Here are five clubs that could use his services.
3. Hawthorn
Despite the burgeoning status of the young Hawks under coach Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn's forward line could use an upgrade or two.
Their leading goalkicker this season was 32-year-old veteran Luke Breust, followed by improving youngster Mitch Lewis, who struggled with injuries throughout this year's campaign and was kept out until Round 7.
Fellow tall Hawk Jacob Koschitzke requested a trade to Richmond this week, perhaps highlighting the Waverley club's need for another rangy target.
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Having reportedly received Hawthorn interest this year, Chol presents as an attractive prospect, not just for depth purposes but for the long-term potential he teases.
As Breust's career continues to near an end, the need for a secondary key forward alongside Lewis is clear. With Lewis increasingly seeming like Hawthorn's goalkicker of the foreseeable future, a potential Chol addition would only aid the 24-year-old's continued development.
Considering the previously-mentioned youthful core at Waverley, Chol would already be one of the more experienced players on the Hawks' list.
