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
One player who has been strongly tied to the Suns this year, which is why we'll make an exception with Rioli's place on this list compared to the remaining crop of off-contracted players.
Rioli, contracted until the end of 2027, looms as a suitable target for the Suns given his ability to break lines and offer clean ball work from the back half, an area of the game Gold Coast is lacking.
Sam Flanders has proven to be a viable option at half-back, while Alex Sexton is also learning the role, but the former could be better used through the middle third of the ground given his damaging disposal and ball-winning prowess.
A reunion with Hardwick would see Rioli command the ball in the back half and given Flanders more freedom further up the field.
Currently unsigned at Geelong beyond this year, Parfitt currently can't break back into the Cats' senior side and could do with a change in environment.
While opportunities might not be much easier for the Northern Territory product, perhaps a new role and the change in scenery could unearth Parfitt's full potential.
Still a formidable inside ball winner, Parfitt could support the Suns' senior line of midfielders as an attacking depth option for Damien Hardwick to consider.
He would come at no cost given his free agency status at Kardinia Park, while his contract wouldn't tighten the purse strings either.
Another Cats player still unsigned and eligible for free agency, Kolodjashnij could be the missing piece in defence the Suns are seeking.
The breakout of Mac Andrew has seen Gold Coast home to a stellar three-man ensemble on their last line with Sam Collins and Charlie Ballard equally damaging in the air.
But their depth beyond those three, coupled with a lacking crop of medium-sized lockdown options, could see Kolodjashnij emerge as a fitting trade target.
The premiership Cat's ability to negate both tall and smaller-framed opposing forwards has been a key strength in Geelong's success in recent years.
Playing as the fourth defensive option who can take a step up in the absence of either Andrew, Collins or Ballard would also prove fruitful.
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.
Another defensive flanker who the Suns might consider should Rioli remain at Richmond for the remaining years of his contract, with Jiath still unsigned for the 2025 season.
Jiath is still a key piece at the Hawks, but there's sure to be some external intrigue given he is yet to settle on a new deal at Waverley this late into the season.
His run and dash has been limited in the last 12 months due to injury, but at full fitness the Gippsland product can be one of the most damaging defensive-half players.
Unlike Johanissen, Jiath would come at some cost given he isn't a free agent in 2024, with the Suns perhaps needing to part with one of their first-round draft selections to attain the backman.