A club that often struggles to lure top-line talent through its doors, could the Gold Coast Suns' trade and free agency plans face a different fate under coach Damien Hardwick?
Since the triple premiership joined the Carrara club, some of his former Punt Road protégés have been linked with a potential move north.
The Suns are loaded with a trio of first-round draft selections for this year's count and have a list on the periphery of premiership contention, with Hardwick another big lure for any player weighing up their future come the off-season.
With a plan to get their ducks in a row for more Academy prospect bidding, the club's early draft selections are set to be up for grabs come the player and pick movement period, meaning talent could be coming the other way at year's end.
So who might Gold Coast have in their sights for 2025 and beyond? We explore five names the Queensland club could consider come the trade period.
OTHER TRADE TARGETS: ADELAIDE, BRISBANE, CARLTON, COLLINGWOOD, ESSENDON, FREMANTLE, GEELONG
4. Jason Johanissen
The Bulldogs flanker has previously been in the Suns' sights, with Gold Coast making a move for Johannisen two years ago as he weighed up his rights as a free agent.
The 2016 Norm Smith Medal winner eventually turned down the opportunity to move to Queensland in favour of a two-year deal at the Kennel, which is now set to expire.
Prior to a recent hamstring battle, Johannisen started 2024 in some of the best form of his career in his more traditional role as a dashing defender.
Should a move for the aforementioned Rioli fall short, Johanissen presents as a cheaper option both in salary and as a trade option, with the Suns not needing to part with draft capital given his free agency status.
