SUNS SET ON FYFE
Gold Coast’s audacious play to add another Brownlow Medal winner to their roster
THE Suns have made an audacious play to lure Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe to the Gold Coast.
The draft-pick rich Suns have offered two first-round picks and potentially another player to Fremantle to get the deal done either in this year’s trade period or next year when Fyfe becomes a restricted free agent.
Gold Coast currently have two picks in the top 10 in this year’s draft, plus whatever they receive for out-of-contract midfielder Dion Prestia who wants out of the Suns and has nominated Richmond as his place of choice.
They would be rolling in first-round picks if Jaeger O’Meara also departed.
O’Meara has yet to recommit to the club for next year and coach Rodney Eade has declared the Suns would expect two first-round picks, one this year and one the following, from a club to get a deal done should he decide to leave. O’Meara has not played at AFL level in two years and is weighing up whether a fresh start could help resurrect his career.
The Suns heard comments from the Fremantle champion last week where he left the door ajar on a potential move.
“The idea of free agency is that players do have a say in their career and it would be remiss of me not to look at every possible option,” Fyfe said.
“But if I see a strong future at Freo, that is where I will be playing my footy.”
List manager Scott Clayton immediately made a call to Fyfe’s manager Jason Dover to sound out the possibility of luring the contested ball beast who has also won two AFLPA MVP awards, two club champions and has been a two time All Australian.
It is believed Fyfe has made no decision on his future beyond his current deal which expires at the end of next year but would favour a move to football heartland in Melbourne should he leave the Dockers.
The Suns accept they are long shots to get the deal done but believed it was worth making a serious approach given the expected loss of Prestia and the fact skipper Gary Ablett is entering the twilight of his career.
There have been rumblings out of the Dockers camp about a rift within the player group, with Fyfe said to be at odds with small forward Hayden Ballantyne.
However, Ballantyne has dismissed the notion, despite admitting he still wants to consider a move away from Fremantle.