Gold Coast Suns key defender Sam Collins is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract with the club after being named in the 44-man All-Australian squad.
Debuting for the club in 2019 after a two-year stint with the Fremantle Dockers (2016-17), Collins has failed to miss a match since Round 15, 2021 and became a member of their leadership group at the start of this year, joining Jarrod Witts, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller.
During this period, he has become one of their most consistent players and is a two-time Club Champion after winning the prestigious award in 2020 and 2024.
According to the Herald Sun, Collins is expected to ink a new deal with the Suns before the opening match of next season.
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One of the elite key defenders in the AFL, it is understood that discussions between Collins and Gold Coast began before he left to travel overseas during the off-season period.
"I'm lucky enough to see him every day, what he does to get up to play, but outside of Gold Coast I think people look at him and don't realise how good he is," Suns coach Damien Hardwick told AFL.com earlier in the year about Collins.
"He's an incredible player. We are very very lucky to have him at our footy club."
Collins, who found success with Werribee and Peel Thunder at the state league levels, has played 127 AFL games - 113 of which have come with the Suns.