Hawthorn’s first-round draft pick Aidan Schubert has knocked back a chance to move to Gold Coast as the Suns consider all possibilities to improve their list next year.
The Suns are pondering all options across the trade period as they try to maximise Ben King’s worth while considering whether to accept pick seven as free agency compensation.
The Suns were keen on Schubert, the no. 23 selection from last year’s national draft, and see Tom Lynch-style possibilities in the young key forward.
Hawthorn could have traded him as part of a separate deal that allowed the Suns to pay fair price for him rather than in connection with the King deal.
It would have enabled the Suns to bring in a young key forward as the King replacement while also maximising the compensation for him.
The Suns and Christian Petracca’s manager on Monday doused any trade speculation despite whispers he is unhappy at the club after only a season.
Petracca is thrilled that the Suns have recruited Scott Pendlebury, one of his favourite players, and has no intention of asking for a trade.
The ex-Demons star finished the season with heel concerns on both feet and might end up playing next year as a lighter mid-forward to ensure the toll on his body is not as great.
But the Suns have no plans to trade him and have not been contacted by any clubs about his services.
The Suns were linked to Sydney star Nick Blakey last off-season after his partner, Australian sprinter Ella Connolly, planned a move to Brisbane in preparation for the 2032 Olympics.
And while they are one of a number of clubs that will monitor his situation, all of those clubs would want some clarity about his legal situation before considering a trade.
The Herald Sun reported last week that the Swans were strongly considering whether to trade one or more of their banned Sydney players as they sought a cultural reset.
The Suns do not currently have a first-round pick but would need to secure one to get back into the trade market.
They had made clear early in the season they would match any bid for King to maximise their trade hand but the current No.7 pick might be superior to a pair of late Hawks first-rounders.
The Suns were very keen on ruck-forward Schubert, taken at pick 23 last year.
The AFL would have looked dimly on Hawthorn giving him away for cut-price rates as part of a convenient deal that was effectively linked to the King deal.
But the Suns had been genuinely keen on him as a key position back-up and with King’s arrival he will push further down the pecking order at the Hawks.
He has made clear that after only a single season at Dingley, he is keen to stay.
Schubert is a 195cm key forward out of South Australia who kicked 28 goals in 13 games for Central Districts to win the SANFL Under 18 MVP award.