2026 Trade / FA Thread

[stormskye]

If Joel flipping Amartey is supposedly going to be getting over $1m then $900k for Neale is absolute peanuts

Less than half the price of butters in $ and no trade capital . Yes please

 

[gouki88]

View attachment 2617946

Less than half the price of butters in $ and no trade capital . Yes please

Less than $1m for one of the best mids in the comp is taking the piss. We’d have to do that

 

[yeah man]

If Joel flipping Amartey is supposedly going to be getting over $1m then $900k for Neale is absolute peanuts

Amartey is being massively over valued. NFI why he's being valued at that number because he really does f*ck all in most of his games. McStay is literally a better player

 

[nickyds35]

Amartey is being massively over valued. NFI why he's being valued at that number because he really does f*ck all in most of his games. McStay is literally a better player

100%, if we approach Amartey at all, let alone on anywhere near $1m+ I would lose all faith in leppa and co.

I am abit concerned that after missing out (most likely) on all of King, Butters, Bailey, and Humphrey, they will be looking to save face, and will do something stupid like throwing money at Amartey.

If we cant get a good forward, would prefer we back in West and McStay (who I dont rate highley, but is a cheaper Amartey) and bank the cash for future use.

Would be nice to have $3m+ in the salary cap for once.

 

[Roverjg]

Amartey is being massively over valued. NFI why he's being valued at that number because he really does f*ck all in most of his games. McStay is literally a better player

It has been reported that Sydney’s reported contract offer of $600–700k x 5 years and what Amartey is seeking is an ocean apart. Tom Morris & Damien Barrett suggested the range of $600k was “probably right” given his output.

Fox Footy has reported he is seeking $1m per year. They believe he could command up to $1.2m

The $1m–$1.2m figure is more “scarcity tax” than performance value: because if Ben King stays at Gold Coast as reported, Amartey becomes one of only several forward options available and that inflates the market.

But paying that for a forward who has gone goalless in 34% of his games, averages under three shots at goal per game, is not a dominant contested mark, and struggles against strong defensive systems (e.g. 1 goal against us in 4 games & 0 goals against STK in 3) is hard to justify.

Jed Walter may also command big money because of the same scarcity, as Kane Cornes suggested, but despite having poorer stats than Amartey at least Walter still has age and hope of upside on his side. Amartey is being priced like premium Wagyu beef despite being chump steak

 

[tmpies01]

Collingwood at the forefront of the race for Jed Walter, on Code Sports just now.

 

[nickyds35]

Collingwood at the forefront of the race for Jed Walter, on Code Sports just now.

ye boi..

please copy and paste article.

 

[tmpies01]

ye boi..

please copy and paste article.

Please! I don’t have it lol

 

[gouki88]

ye boi..

please copy and paste article.

Saturday’s clash against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium looms as an acid test for the Gold Coast Suns and their top four aspirations.
But it is also a pivotal one for young key forward Jed Walter, who remains undecided about his playing future beyond this season.

The Suns banked their annual eight premiership points from two games in the Top End but have traditionally struggled to front up the following week after making the trip back from Darwin.

North has won four of its five games at Marvel Stadium this season and ran ladder-leaders Sydney to within eight points there a fortnight ago, thus presenting a much sterner test than their position on the table might suggest.

Uncontracted beyond 2026, Walter is weighing up his options after struggling to hold down a spot in Hardwick’s side with multiple clubs including Collingwood and Essendon monitoring the 195cm spearhead.

Jed Walter of the Suns celebrates a goal. Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images
In and out of the seniors since being drafted at No. 3 in 2023 as the first of four standout Suns Academy talents, the 20-year-old has played 35 games in his first two-and-a-bit seasons.

Gold Coast is loaded with tall forward talent, headlined by Coleman Medal leader Ben King who is expected to sign a two-year contract extension sooner rather than later.

Walter’s great mate, Ethan Read, put his hand up to be King’s lieutenant with strong form early in the season before shifting to the wing in recent weeks to make room for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in attack.

The ex-Bulldog has impressed in his handful of appearances after more than 12 months out of the game and Hardwick has spoken repeatedly about the Suns’ long-term investment in the former No. 1 overall pick.

When King, Read and Ugle-Hagan were all up and running Walter was the odd one out and the Palm Beach Currumbin product is within his rights to wonder what his place in the team looks like moving forward.

Jed Walter celebrates goal with teammates. Photo: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images
With Ugle-Hagan (ankle) and Read (knee) both set to miss the Kangaroos clash Walter will have a perfect opportunity to prove his wares to the Suns’ coaching staff on Saturday.

They will reassess the fitness of Ugle-Hagan and Read after the bye and it is more than likely at least one, if not both will be available for the QClash the following week, leaving Walter with a limited runway to prove he should remain in the senior side.

Against Port Adelaide in Darwin he played arguably the best game of his career, booting 3.1 from nine touches in a cameo that drew praise from his coach this week.

“It was great for him to stand up,” Hardwick said on Thursday.

“We’ve always known what this guy can be.

“We were pumped with the way he played last week – there is no one happier for him than me.

“The way he went about it, we look forward to a similar game this week.”

The Suns have been patient with Walter, who dominated juniors as a hulking key forward with the raw physical traits and defensive intent that AFL teams love.

But he has had to work hard on perfecting his forward craft and that was the key message whenever he has been sent back to play VFL.

When it all comes together he will be a bona fide star of the competition – it is just a matter of how patient he can be on that road.

Jed Walter of the Suns kicks a goal. Photo: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“The fact of the matter is he probably is playing at the vast majority of other sides but we’ve been relatively successful over this short period and it does take some time to earn your place in that side,” Hardwick said.

“Trust is earned and he’s working his way through that.

“He’s become better every year. He’s worked on something that his game needed and that’s what we love as coaches, how he’s gone about that.

“It just does take a little bit of time but what we do know is this guy is going to be a really good player for us, hopefully, for the long term.”

It is understood the Suns have an offer on the table for Walter to extend but Hardwick said he understood that the young forward would assess his options.

“Look it is what it is. We understand that he’s a high quality player and a key forward (and those) are hard to find.

“We would love him to stay there’s no question about that but it’s every player’s right to go through it.

“Obviously from a key forward’s point of view we’ve got a number of guys in that position so he’s going to probably assess his options.

“But what I do know is this kid’s improved every year in our system. We think we provide a unique and great environment that will allow him to play his best footy – and we love the kid, our fans love the kid.

“We hope he stays and we hope he has a long, illustrious career at the Gold Coast Suns.”

If it's this one, hard to say how this suggests we're leading the race. One mention of us and it's alongside Essendon

 

[tmpies01]

If it's this one, hard to say how this suggests we're leading the race. One mention of us and it's alongside Essendon

We aren’t because Essendon is interested also, but it’s a hard sell.

You’d expect we ramp up our interest once he’s completely set on leaving. Just reading between the lines.

 

[nickyds35]

We aren’t because Essendon is interested also, but it’s a hard sell.

You’d expect we ramp up our interest once he’s completely set on leaving. Just reading between the lines.

To be fair, all things being equal, if its between us and essendon, its a pretty easy choice.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

To be fair, all things being equal, if its between us and essendon, its a prettu each choice.

He’ll be competing with Caddy, May and Edwards there as well.

 

[SchuPie]

Collingwood at the forefront of the race for Jed Walter, on Code Sports just now.

As long as it doesn’t involve our 2026 first
(I’d also like to keep 2027 first regardless of Tassie)

 

[tmpies01]

To be fair, all things being equal, if its between us and essendon, its a pretty easy choice.

Easiest choice he’ll ever make.

 

[WanderingDude]

HDM. Pace IQ pass!

 

[HFF]

Collingwood at the forefront of the race for Jed Walter, on Code Sports just now.

Yes please.
Perfect type and fit for us

 

[satanshoof101]

Collingwood at the forefront of the race for Jed Walter, on Code Sports just now.

Do you think Collingwood's pitch to Walter is you will never have to worry about competing for your spot?

 

[Chrispiesssss]

Yes please.
Perfect type and fit for us

Completely agree. I think he’ll compliment West.

 

[Unknown Identity]

My kingdom for Jed Walter.

Get 80 odd games under his belt and he's going to be a stud.

 

[Rusty Beam]

Yes please.
Perfect type and fit for us

He is if he develops into the player he projected to as a junior. A larger version of Curnow IMO.

At this point it is probably less than 50/50 though. Still probably better odds than a draftee, and worth the roll of the dice.

Hopefully something like 2026 first rounder for Walter and their second.

 

[Lockyer24]

He is looking like a beast today.

And the good thing is his baseline if he isn’t marking it is he is an absolute tackling pest - our type

 

[tmpies01]

He is looking like a beast today.

And the good thing is his baseline if he isn’t marking it is he is an absolute tackling pest - our type

Gold Coast will expect the world in return. You watch.

 

[manicpie]

Gold Coast will expect the world in return. You watch.

They might not be able to afford him with their salary cap being tight

 

[TradeDraft]

As long as it doesn’t involve our 2026 first
(I’d also like to keep 2027 first regardless of Tassie)

Suns would ask for 2 1st Round Picks

 

[gouki88]

He is if he develops into the player he projected to as a junior. A larger version of Curnow IMO.

At this point it is probably less than 50/50 though. Still probably better odds than a draftee, and worth the roll of the dice.

Hopefully something like 2026 first rounder for Walter and their second.

I wouldn’t want to make that trade. He hasn’t shown nearly enough for me to give up access to a potential strong midfield choice with our first