DOWN TO THE WIRE
GOLD Coast are again stuck in the AFL trade period’s 11thhour game of chicken with deals for Gary Ablett and Lachie Weller to go down to the wire today.
The Suns’ hopes of landing Geelong’s Darcy Lang as a trade for Ablett appear to have been scuppered with the midfielder selecting Carlton as his destination of choice.
It is understood the Suns have now softened their stance on securing a player for Ablett and will take a suitable trade for draft picks just to get the deal done.
But Suns list manager Scott Clayton has once again been forced into a game of who blinks first on the Weller trade.
Last year tense negotiations with Hawthorn over Jaeger O’Meara went down to the wire.
Weller did his bit yesterday to increase the chances of a deal being done when he went public with his desire to join the Gold Coast, shooting down Fremantle’s claims the player was happy there.
However, despite his threat to walk out on the club and into next year’s draft in order to get to the Gold Coast, the Dockers have so far refused to budge on their demand for pick two in the draft.
Fremantle believe the $4 million over five years they understand the Suns have offered the 21-year-old demonstrates his value.
Gold Coast have not confirmed that figure.
The Suns believe the fact Weller did not finish in the top 10 of Fremantle’s club championship suggests their offer of an early secondround pick, or even a package deal with Brandon Matera is adequate.
Weller claimed Fremantle would be “pretty silly” not to accept a “really good” deal from the Suns before today’s deadline.
“I suppose if it doesn’t happen I’ll just play out my 12 months and move straight back,” he said. “I feel like for both teams it’s logic to get the deal done now.’’
The Suns yesterday struck their second deal of the annual exchange period when exCrow Harrison Wigg, pick 54 and a future fourth-round pick was traded to Gold Coast for their pick No.39 in this year’s draft.
Wigg was recruited with pick No.35 in the 2014 draft but has yet to earn a senior game with Adelaide.
He is considered a highly skilled ball user who would slot into a halfback spot left vacant by the departure of Adam Saad to Essendon.
GOLD Coast will host an AFL match in Townsville for the first time in 2019 or 2020.
With Metricon Stadium out of action for the first couple of months of the 2018 AFL season because of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the Suns will also play a home game in Cairns next year in a deal announced yesterday by the Queensland Government.
IF IT DOESN’T HAPPEN I’LL JUST PLAY OUT MY 12 MONTHS AND MOVE STRAIGHT BACK LACHIE WELLER