New link emerges for contract Sun; simmering key forward bother at Hawks — Trade Latest

Despite Gold Coast’s hard-line stance on their contracted players, a suitor out west has emerged with interest in one of their emerging defenders.

Plus, a watch on the interest from two Victorian clubs in a Giants forward yet to accept his club’s current offer. Foxfooty.com.au brings you the latest player movement updates in Trade Latest!

Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

INTEREST IN RUNNING SUN GROWS

Damien Hardwick’s hard-nosed stance on players leaving Gold Coast under contract has been well-documented, but it hasn’t stopped rival clubs from keeping an eye on Joel Jeffrey.

Foxfooty.com.au understands that while the 24-year-old has shown no intention of leaving the Suns, West Coast holds interest in the Northern Territory product from afar.

Jeffrey is contracted until the end of 2028 after signing a four-year extension in November 2023, and has also been linked to St Kilda in recent weeks.

Given the young list profile at the Eagles, Andrew McQualter’s club shouldn’t have any issues in offering a substantial figure should their interest become more formal.

“The fact of the matter is this is an exciting group. This is an exciting team that is capable of greatness, in my view,” Suns head coach Damien Hardwick told reporters earlier this month.

“And people can sit there and they can talk about Bailey Humphrey and Joel Jeffrey and all these players — they’re contracted to us for the next two years.

“You can talk to them as much as you want, but they’re contracted. They’re not going anywhere as long as I’m coach of this football club.”

West Coast’s preliminary interest is logical, given Jeffrey’s ability to use the ball cleanly, but aggressively, out of the back half — a skillset the Eagles could desperately use to aid 2025 mid-season draftee Tom McCarthy.

Humphrey has been linked to several Victorian clubs for close to nine months now, with Melbourne and Hawthorn understood to be leading the race in any case the midfielder-forward does leave Carrara at season’s end.

Star forward Ben King however, is a restricted free agent coming out of contract that at this stage looks torn between signing a two-year deal at the Suns, or joining the Hawks.

WATCH ON HAWTHORN RIPPLE EFFECT AS GIANT PONDERS CONTRACT CALL

After Hawthorn fell short of reaping the rewards for going all-in on Zach Merrett last trade period, Sam Mitchell’s club is poised to be one of, if not the most active clubs this trade period — and there’s a new name to keep an eye on.

The club’s key forward stocks on a contract front are as unstable as they have been for some time, with all of Jack Gunston, Mitch Lewis, Calsher Dear and Max Ramsden yet to sign on for 2027 and beyond.

As Gunston nears retirement, it has left the Hawks in hot pursuit of Ben King as their next deep full-forward to take the reins, though the star 34-year-old could still go around again for another year given his incredible form.

The uncertainty surrounding both King and Gunston’s future, however, has created a flow-on effect for Lewis and Dear. Lewis, who is an unrestricted free agent, is yet to sign a four-year deal tabled by the club last month, while there have been no notable updates regarding Dear’s contract talks.

It has left the Hawks needing to keep other out-of-contract players across the league in mind, with foxfooty.com.au understanding GWS’ Jake Riccardi is one of multiple players who could emerge as a player of interest if their depth is tested.

The 198cm tall has been weighing up a multi-year deal from the Giants since last month as he recovers from ankle surgery.

It’s possible that, similarly to Lewis at Hawthorn, Riccardi is seeking clarity on the future of his own teammates, including Max Gruzewski, Toby Greene and Nick Madden — the latter of whom foxfooty.com.au revealed is being hotly pursued by Richmond.

Closer to the middle of the ground, the brown and gold have also shown interest in Gold Coast’s Bailey Humphrey.

Click here to read article