Since their inception, the Gold Coast Suns have struggled to assemble a squad that can challenge for finals. While not entirely their fault - free agency certainly hasn't helped - it's becoming harder and harder to ignore the raft of first-round draft picks they have had for little return.
That's not to say they aren't on the right track. Recent seasons have seen a minor change in fortunes, with the club beginning to retain most of its top-end talent, as well as recruiting cleverly to fill gaps in experience and quality.
Players such as Brandon Ellis and Mabior Chol have been targeted with handy results, while others like Levi Casboult and Lachie Weller have played their roles perfectly while aiding their developing youngsters to find their feet at AFL level.
Still, the scrutiny on Stuart Dew and his charges to push for a spot in the finals will be fiercer than ever in 2023, given they are yet to feature in September at all throughout their short history.
Season 2022 saw improvement for the Suns, winning 10 games and showing signs of an identity. Encouragingly for them, their final percentage of 102.8 is reflective of a club that is heading in the right direction.
While they didn't play finals, they did manage to beat finalists Sydney, Fremantle and Richmond during season 2022, a clear sign that they are not to be taken lightly. All of that was managed without star forward Ben King, who returns in 2023 from a knee reconstruction and will no doubt be looking to enhance his already burgeoning reputation.
The Suns cannot afford another season without a finals push. The time for relevance has come after years of life support from the AFL and the club knows this, so too does the playing group. Led by the superb Touk Miller, this fierce group will demand respect and if it is not given, they are starting to give the impression they will simply take it.
With all of that said, they are still short in certain areas and were they afforded the opportunity to add to their stocks, here are some options we feel could help them go to the next level if they had the power to 'steal' one player from a rival.
While Touk Miller is one of the competition's most respected onballers, he could desperately use a blue-chip midfield bull to help him out around the ground at stoppages. Miller is a competitive beast and has shouldered a massive workload to date, but some elite depth at stoppages is a must for the Suns.
Noah Anderson is developing into an excellent player and Matthew Rowell is beginning to find his feet, while David Swallow has been a fantastic and reliable servant to the club. Beyond Miller, however, no one is going to keep the opposition up at night just yet. Clayton Oliver is exactly what they need.
Oliver is not only a premiership player, but a star of the competition, one of, if not the best, stoppage players out there. With size, strength, clean hands and high football IQ, he would slot seamlessly into this Gold Coast midfield and make them finals contenders.
In 2022 the Suns ranked first in hit-outs per game, while Oliver ranked first in clearances per game and first in total contested possessions per game. He would be a transformative presence in the Suns' engine room and would allow the likes of Anderson and Rowell to develop under significantly less scrutiny.
He would likely be high on the Gold Coast wish list, if not number one.
As arguably the best defender in the competition, it would be hardly surprising to find Tom Stewart on the Gold Coast wish list. His intercept and aerial ability are close to unmatched, while his toughness, reliability and experience would be a huge addition to a Suns backline short on quality.
While Sam Collins is a very good key defender and Charlie Ballard is a more than handy intercept defender, respectfully, neither have the same level of ability as Stewart, who now also boasts premiership experience.
In season 2022, Stewart averaged 7.3 marks and 6.2 rebound 5os per game, while he also ranked second for intercepts per game, tenth for marks per game and tenth for rebound 50s per game competition-wide. Those kind of stats become even more appealing when you consider that the Suns as a whole ranked 12th for rebound 50s per game.
As a classy and experienced intercept defender who uses the ball well, Stewart would walk straight into the Suns' defence and instantly make them much harder to score against. His leadership and calm presence would be an added bonus for a defence that is crying out for stability. Tom Stewart at the Gold Coast Suns would be an instant game-changer, the Suns should be so lucky.
Since the Suns lost Izak Rankine to the Crows over the off-season, they have seen a void open up for a small forward. Enter Liam Ryan.
There are already options waiting in the wings to take advantage of Rankine's departure, namely Malcolm Rosas, yet some experience in this department would be a boon.
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Aside from Rosas, Ben Ainsworth had a fantastic 2022 season, while Alex Sexton appears another promising talent under Dew. There is certainly room for an experienced small forward with quality in this Suns forward set-up to help ease the burden on Ainsworth and guide Rosas.
Liam Ryan has not been at his best the past two seasons, with injuries hampering him from showcasing his brilliance consistently. Yet it's indisputable that the premiership Eagle possesses copious amounts of x-factor and is a class above most others when it comes to small forward craft.
Throughout his career to date, Ryan averages 1.4 goals, 3.5 marks and 2.6 inside 50s per game. When fully fit, he ranked as high as ninth in the competition for total goal assists and score involvements per game, while his premiership experience would not be taken lightly at the Suns.
After a breakout season in 2022, it would come as no surprise to see Darcy Cameron on any club's most-wanted list. Brodie Grundy's injury and Mason Cox's form allowed him to flourish as the number one ruckman at Collingwood, while he has also proven to be an asset in front of goal.
Jarrod Witts is a quality ruckman and a great leader at the Suns, he has been instrumental in the cultural shift at the club. However, at 30 years of age, the wear and tear of AFL football will start to take its toll and the club would dearly love some quality support for him.
Cameron shapes as the ideal foil, able to play forward when needed and dominate aerially around the ground. His presence would allow Mabior Chol and Ben King to focus solely on their forward craft, while it would afford youngster Mac Andrew plenty of time to develop.
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While Gold Coast are not short on hit-outs, ranking first in the competition for per game averages, Witts' injury history and age make a player like Cameron a smart safety net should things go wrong.
His average of 3.8 marks per game, coupled with his average of 17.6 hit-outs per game in 2022 highlight his value as a support ruckman that would add some much-needed depth for the Suns in a crucial department.