Suns shut down rivals bids for young gun; new leader in ‘red-hot’ pick 13 race revealed: Whispers

A leader for Gold Coast’s coveted pick 13 in this year’s draft may have emerged at the end of the first week of the trade period.

Meanwhile, the Suns have also categorically rejected any chance of a young gun moving clubs amid a trade exchange.

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NEW LEADER FOR THE INVALUABLE PICK 13?

In what has become one of the more hectic chasing of a draft pick in recent times, a new contender for Gold Coast’s coveted pick 13 has emerged.

Nine’s Tom Morris reports that the race has narrowed down to four clubs, with the Suns’ first-round pick looming as integral to several clubs both on a draft front or planned trades for players.

Collingwood have widely been seen as the front-runner for the selection, but as Morris said on air Friday evening, the Demons now shape up as serious competition.

REPORTED OFFERS FOR SUNS’ PICK 13:

MELBOURNE: Future first round pick + one of pick 28/40

SYDNEY: Picks 19 and 22

COLLINGWOOD: John Noble and future first-round pick (with pick 23 also in return)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Future first-round pick

“The race for pick 13 is red-hot; I have the Dees just ahead of Collingwood,” Morris said.

“Sydney is also in the hunt, they’ve offered two picks this year. The Dogs have also registered their interest in this crucial pick from the Gold Coast Suns that’s very much for sale.”

If the Pies were to get their hands on picks 13 and 23, it would keep them in pole position for Dan Houston at Port Adelaide.

In the case of the Western Bulldogs and Sydney, they look likely to take pick 13 to the draft, should they acquire it.

SUNS SHUT DOWN HUMPHREY ENQUIRY

Gold Coast have reportedly shut down any chance of young gun Bailey Humphrey being a part of any deal made with Collingwood.

According to AFL Media’s Callum Twomey, the Magpies politely inquired about the 20-year-old being involved in return for a trade with John Noble.

But it was refused immediately, with the 40-gamer contracted with his current club until the end of 2028.

The expected declining of such an offer now leaves the black and white on their toes for both their trading of Noble, but also the prized acquisition of their pick 13.

Humphrey was taken at pick 6 in the 2022 AFL Draft, and has kicked 25 goals as a half-forward flank, that earlier this season rotated occasionally through the midfield.

The revelation that the Suns youngster would not be for sale comes after list manager Justin Leppitsch stated that the soaring value of Gold Coast’s pick 13 has made negotiations around Dan Houston “complicated and messy”.

Collingwood have been locked in a stalemate with other negotiations since welcoming former Giant Harry Perryman to the club via free agency last week.