SUNS OPEN TO PICK TRADES

GOLD Coast Suns remain open to trading picks one and two in next week’s national draft, adamant the widelyheld belief they will select Victorian best mates Matthew Rowell and Noah Anderson is “not a done deal”.

The Suns were granted a priority pick at No. 1 as part of an AFL assistance package in September, paving the way for them to poach dynamic Oakleigh Chargers duo Rowell and Anderson with the first two selections in the draft.

However, Gold Coast says it will be all ears to any pick swap offers that come its way, with live trading available up to and during the draft.

“I reckon it would be remiss of us not to be open to anything that came our way so we’ll certainly go into the draft open to offers that may come up,” Suns recruiting manager Kall Burns told

News Corp.

“It would be unlikely now that trades would happen prior to the night. There might be one or two but I think the bulk of them will happen on the night if they happen from now on.”

Burns said the Suns had tracked Rowell and Anderson closely for the past three years, among other highlyrated draft hopefuls, describing both as “outstanding” characters and class players who bring different strengths.

Drafting friends and teammates together has been a growing retention strategy used by interstate clubs, with the Suns certain to factor that in to any decisions on draft night.

“It’s absolutely a consideration, no doubt,” Burns said.

“Player movement is becoming more active and open, which is good, and we all have to roll with that and … be really adaptive to that. All clubs would look at — whether it’s friends or exteammates of whatever it is — getting people in that, first and foremost, have to fit your club culture but, secondly, if you can get a few players that know each other I’m sure it goes a long way to helping any club.”

The Suns also hold picks 15 and 20 in the draft, which they again open to trading as long as they can retain selections in the first or second rounds.

“If clubs are open to pushing back then we’ll have discussions about trading them in but if that doesn’t happen we’re very, very happy picking there,” Burns said.

“We think there’s really good depth through this year’s draft, particularly that mid-first round to mid-second round. We think there’s some really strong players in that group.”