For the sixth year in a row, the Gold Coast Suns are seemingly giving up desirable trade assets in a deal that will see them pocket a significantly weaker package in return.
Across the past five trade windows, the Suns have been part of some astonishing deals that have left them with little, if any, profit, while their rivals walk away from the table with a smile that is sure to reach their ears.
A pair of clubs, Fremantle and Geelong, have been able to take advantage of the Suns' list issues the most, with both sides having landed multiple bargain trade deals that have only added to a frustrating history for the Queensland club.
The imminent Jack Bowes/Pick 7 deal is the latest questionable piece of business from the Suns, with Geelong again looming as the club to benefit from Gold Coast's inability to retain key players.
But when the Suns can manage to stave off rivals for their own young stars, they're often left needing to pay well north of market price to do so. It's a situation that has led to the Bowes situation, and others, in recent years.
In each off-season since 2017, the Suns have managed at least one piece of business that was, and is, seen as a staggering decision, with or without hindsight in play.
So while Bowes' exit could very easily go to the top of the list, we look at some of the Suns' most questionable trade decisions in their short history.
4. 2018 - Trade with Brisbane
Gold Coast receive: Future first-round pick
Brisbane receive: Pick 19, future second-round pick, future third-round pick
To break this deal down quite simply, the Suns parted with a first-round pick in exchange for a first-round pick, a second-round pick and a third-round pick.
Pick 19 would eventually be traded on from the Lions in a deal that would land them Lachie Neale, a player that has since won three best and fairest honours and Brownlow Medal.
The pair of future selections the Lions received would also be traded on from the Lions, with those selections eventually landing at 23 and 52 overall for the 2019 National Draft.
Meanwhile, the Suns would go on to use the future first-round selection, which would fall at 17th overall, in a trade with Carlton that saw the Suns send the selection and Pick 22 to the Blues for Pick 11 (Sam Flanders).
Not the worst piece of business the Suns have done, but certainly questionable at the very least.
