14 of the 20 AFL-listed members of Gold Coast's VFL premiership side could depart the club in the off-season that followed their silverware-clinching grand final win, while a veteran forward from that side has silently re-signed for 2024.
The Suns posted a 19-point win over Werribee at Princes Park last month to claim the first premiership piece in the club's short history, with the 23-man side mostly made up of either AFL-listed players and current or former Academy graduates.
Only Campbell Lake and Jared Eckersley would be part of the club's VFL program, with 16-year-old midfielder Leonardo Lombard also a product of the Suns Academy however isn't eligible to be drafted until next year.
The remaining 20 premiership players were all part of Gold Coast's AFL program this year - with the state league advantage level a by-product of the club's additional list spots.
13 of those players managed at least one game under either Stuart Dew or Steven King this year, while VFL captain James Tsitas wouldn't play in the season decider through suspension.
Tsitas adds to eight players from the VFL Grand Final side who are currently without deals for next year, while a further five have already departed Carrara via the trade period, retirement or delistings.
Sandy Brock,ย Sam Day,ย Oskar Faulkhead,ย Lloyd Johnston,ย Hewego Paul Oea,ย Jeremy Sharp,ย Jake Stein and Bodhi Uwland are all unsigned for 2024 after helping lead the Suns to a VFL flag, while veteran forward Levi Casboult joins Tsitas in also being without a deal.
Connor Blakelyย (retired),ย Mabior Cholย (Hawthorn Hawks),ย Charlie Constable (retired), Elijah Hollandsย (Carlton Blues),ย Brodie McLaughlin (delisted) and Chris Burgess (Adelaide) have all left the Suns since, while Jed Anderson (delisted) has also departed.
The Suns are needing to make further list moves given they hold 10 draft picks for the November 20-21 draft, with those selections to be used to bring in Academy quartet Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham. The Suns will need to have a minimum number of list spots free given their heavy draft hand and have opened seven so far this off-season.
The club could delist and then re-list players through the Rookie Draft to help form their list and meet requirements.
One name that has been re-signed for next year is veteran forward Alex Sexton, withย Zero Hangerย informed that the 29-year-old has quietly recommitted for 2024.
He joins Ned Moyle, Alex Davies, Caleb Graham, Joel Jeffrey and Jy Farrar with contracts for next year to go with their VFL premiership medallions.
A two-time club leading goalkicker for the Queensland club, Sexton will enter a 13th season with the Suns next year where he could see his place at second on the club's all-time goals tally handed to Ben King should he go another year with less than 10 games.
The small forward managed just eight appearances at AFL level this year after playing just the four in 2022.
The aforementioned Casboult can be expected to earn a reprieve after the Suns parted with forward Mabior Chol and tied 2023 Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal winners McLaughlin and Burgess, leaving just Ben King and Jack Lukosius as listed key forwards for 2024.
READ: WHY SUNS PARTED WITH THE VFL'S TWO BEST FORWARDS AT ONCE
That depth chart will be strengthened by the impending addition of top-rated prospect Walter, while inaugural Sun Sam Day might be required for another 12 months before Walter is utilised.
Pacey small forward Oea could join Day in earning an extension, while flanker Sharp faces an uncertain future given the lack of interest this year from previously keen WA clubs Fremantle and West Coast.
Faulkhead and Brock are also yet to learn where their futures sit and haven't been able to break into the senior side for an AFL debut, while former Giant Jake Stein could depart after a year on the Suns' list without a game to his name with the club.
Stein was unable to see out the grand final win over the Tigers due to a worrying knee injury that added to an interrupted end to his maiden year with the club.
The AFL's first list lodgment is scheduled for October 31, with the first delisted free agency window to open the following day.
