CLUB FACES DARK DAY AS TIME UP FOR STARS

GOLD Coast’s demand for AFL intervention comes ahead of a contract crisis with six free agents and 10 of its stars out of contract next year.

The entire senior core of their list remains unsigned past 2019, with David Swallow, Steven May, Sam Day, Rory Thompson, Tom Nicholls and Alex Sexton all free agents.

Exciting forward Peter Wright, young midfield talents Jack Martin and Touk Miller as well as Pearce Hanley and Callum Ah Chee are out of contract next year.

The Suns did exceptionally well to sign up most of their players past the current season last year, with Adam Saad the only high-profile departure.

This year Tom Lynch is considering his future, with No.5 draft pick Kade Kolodjashnij also facing a decision on his future in football given an ongoing concussion battle.

Aaron Hall has been in and out of the Gold Coast side and lacks defensive intent, while Jarrod Harbrow is expected to sign a contract extension given strong form.

Many of the younger players are invested, one of the club’s young stars telling his player manager: “We are up for the fight.”

If the Suns can turn around their fortunes by next year it will give them much better leverage to retain all of those stars.

But the Suns will be wary about their contract position next year should their onfield struggles continue.

Many of those players have re-signed multiple times but will hit nine years of football without playing a single final.