2021 draft and trade period

[Ben Drever]

Gun free agent to wait before deciding his future at Dons

One of the top free agents will assess Essendon's direction before making a call on his future

www.afl.com.au

 

[Jen2310]

Under the AFL's list concession package to the Suns at the end of 2019, the club did not have to match bids on any Academy players for three years, meaning the likes of Connor Budarick

35

Connor Budarick

Age

19

Ht

175cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.5

3star

MG

171.3

3star

D

10.6

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

171.3

3star

D

10.6

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

153.0

3star

, Alex Davies and Joel Jeffrey all joined the club outside of the regular bidding system.

That rule remains in place for this season however is subject to review by the AFL later this year, with the Suns last year swapping draft picks for future selections in case they needed to use the points for Academy players again.

The League last year put a block on the Suns trading out their start-of-second-round pick for 2021, which was also part of the assistance package.


Austin Harris looms as one of this year's leading Academy prospects in the pool and the 175cm skillful midfielder is tied to the Suns.

The Suns also have access to Jye Lockett, the nephew of Sydney and St Kilda goalkicking champion Tony, with Lockett having relocated to play for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the NAB League.



Darwin remains as part of the Suns' Academy catchment, with key forward Ned Stevens – a 196cm marking option – and bullocking midfielder Antonio James tied to the club out of that region.

A group of Suns prospects who didn't get drafted last year, including Brodie Lake, Max Pescud, Ryan Pickering and Jack Johnson, will also be in the mix.

A Lockett in Suns colours? It could happen - but will they have to match a bid?

The rule that allows Gold Coast not to have to match bids for its Academy players is set to be reviewed later this year

www.afl.com.au

I've had it confirmed to me that Josh Fahey has been approved for access for GWS still.

 

[Big Red Machine]

A Lockett in Suns colours? It could happen - but will they have to match a bid?

The rule that allows Gold Coast not to have to match bids for its Academy players is set to be reviewed later this year

www.afl.com.au

I've had it confirmed to me that Josh Fahey has been approved for access for GWS still.

I've never wanted a non-ginger player to pan out more in my life (Which is a lie as SUNS will point out when it comes to some of our draft picks)

But the second coming of Plugger on the GC is something I need in my life.

 

[Fat Pizza]

I've never wanted a non-ginger player to pan out more in my life (Which is a lie as SUNS will point out when it comes to some of our draft picks)

But the second coming of Plugger on the GC is something I need in my life.

I’d just be happy to have a Plugger on my side, rather than watch him kick bag after bag against us. So much so that I have taken to calling Dave Swallow “Plugger” when he plays in the forward line.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[GC2015]

I've never wanted a non-ginger player to pan out more in my life (Which is a lie as SUNS will point out when it comes to some of our draft picks)

But the second coming of Plugger on the GC is something I need in my life.

I’d just be happy to have a Plugger on my side, rather than watch him kick bag after bag against us. So much so that I have taken to calling Dave Swallow “Plugger” when he plays in the forward line.

Jye is a very interesting prospect for us. Born and bred Gold Coaster, Broadbeach/Southport junior and has been boarding down in Ballarat for close to 1.5 years now. If he even has 20% of the ability that his uncle Tony had then it's worth while drafting Jye. Another Lockett in the AFL is a storyline fans can get behind and it just so happens that he grew up in our academy zone and has actually stated he wants to play for us.

I'd love to head down to Metricon one day in the near future and watch the King-Lockett duo combine for bags of 10+ goals. That would be a lot of fun for us Suns fans! Here's Spitta interviewing a 13 year old Jye Lockett while he was playing for the Southport Sharks: