No exit for May in Suns impasse
GOLD Coast will sign Werribee intercept defender Sam Collins as their third state-league player despite preparing to keep Steven May for a final season.
The Suns are fully prepared to trade May for the No.5 selection in the next three days but an impasse over deals for Lachie Neale and Jesse Hogan means that deal is in jeopardy.
May would prefer to be traded to Melbourne in coming days but accepts that if the Demons cannot come up with an early pick there is no way the Suns will trade him.
Instead he would have to earn his free agent rights by playing out a final year – most likely not as the captain – with the Suns and May to have a mature attitude to his impending departure.
Instead of declaring he is desperate to leave the Suns while under contract, May has stayed quiet while his management has declared his intent to the club’s hierarchy in case he has to remain.
The Suns had investigated 194cm defender Collins as a replacement should May leave but are now expected to sign him regardless of that trade.
The 24-year-old played 14 games for Fremantle then was delisted at the end of 2017, returning to Melbourne to play out an excellent season for Werribee. KEEN TO GO: Steven May
He will join Werribee teammate and 190cm forward Josh Corbett, the VFL’s Fothergill Medallist this year, and West Adelaide swingman Chris Burgess as state league signings for the Suns under the AFL’s provisions.
The Suns will in coming days trade away pacy midfielder Aaron Hall (North Melbourne), No.5 draft pick Kade Kolodjashnij (Melbourne) and No.7 draft selection Jack Scrimshaw (Hawthorn) as part of a list overhaul.
That trio will be moved on for 2019 draft selections because the Suns have already acquired 2018 selections 2, 3, 19, 24 and 29, with May potentially arriving for pick five.
The club has already recruited Anthony Miles and Corey Ellis and will secure Geelong’s George Horlin Smith for a late pick.
If they did secure the No.5 selection for May, Gold Coast might consider a pick swap with an Adelaide-based club.