Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell is expected to garner plenty of interest as he enters the last year of his current contract, with a host of Victorian clubs tipped to "have a dip" at the Suns star.
One of those sides is said to be Collingwood, who recently lured Dan Houston (Port Adelaide), Harry Perryman (GWS) and Tim Membrey (St Kilda) to the AIA Centre during the trade period.
Pies coach Craig McRae has gone on record saying he wants "players, not picks", suggesting that his list management crew will eye off established stars instead of heading down the path of a rebuild.
The Suns have been in this position many times before, but if they fail to make the finals in 2025, it could cause Rowell, and others, to start exploring their options.
"I reckon Collingwood will have a crack at luring Matt Rowell next year,"ย AFL Media's Cal Twomey said onย Gettable.
"They'll continue to be proactive on the trade table.
"That's not saying he'll take up any interest and move, but as will other Victorian clubs, Collingwood will have a dip at a lot of players next year."
The former Pick 1 on the 2019 National Draft is originally from Melbourne, drafted from the Oakleigh Chargers and attended Carey Baptist Grammar School with great friend and teammate Noah Anderson.
Winners of the APS championships in 2018, Rowell, alongside Anderson, lifted the premiership cup with none other than Collingwood star Nick Daicos.
The link between the two began on the school oval and has extended to the AFL, where they've faced each other four times at the elite level.
And their relationship could play a part in potential trade negotiations next year.
Daicos - alongside brother Josh - openly had a strong hand in luring Houston to Collingwood, given their connection of playing junior football together at Greythorn.
"Having Nick (Daicos) push it from behind the scenes really showed me that they really loved me and wanted me," Houston said shortly after being traded to the Pies.
"The rest was in my court, and I pushed my management to go there. I guess it was working both ways, but I lent on those relationships a lot.
"I'm super grateful for Nick in particular, who from what I've heard, pushed it a fair bit."
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