The Gold Coast Suns may have to prepare themselves to fight off rival clubs who may be circling their young stars.
The Suns have always had an issue keeping hold of their young talent as a lack of success and homesickness have seen young stars walk out of Metricon Stadium.
Gerard Healy believes the Suns may be raided by opposition clubs again this season as they continue to stall in their development.
โI donโt think they (the Suns) have progressed at all this year and thatโs a concern to me,โ Healy said on AFL Nation.
โItโs a concern that every manager I speak to thinks they are a chance to pluck one or two of the kids out of there.
โItโs a really important 12 months coming up for them. Most people will stay where theyโre financially rewarded and emotionally rewarded, and at the moment theyโre not being emotionally rewarded on the field. They may be off the field.
โBut every one of those kids is desperate to play in finals and in front of packed houses. You only need 20,000 to fill a stadium, and if they can get 15,000 on a regular basis - I think theyโll get that (at Metricon Stadium) if they start winning, but the winning has to start happening pretty soon.โ
Suns' big forward Ben King has been linked with a move back to Melbourne to play with his brother Max at St Kilda. The Saints have had an eye on Ben since he was drafted to the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile South Australian exports Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine could be lured by the fast developing Adelaide or the premiership ready Port Adelaide.
The Suns are 4-7 and while their development is moving slowly they have had to battle away this year without captain Jarrod Witts, who injured his ACL earlier in the season, while 2019 No.1 draft pick Matt Rowell has been missing since Round 1.
