Rival’s bid for Pie ‘finally’ ramps up; ‘frontrunner’ emerges in four-club Sun race — Trade Whispers

The Suns are central to Friday’s trade whispers.

Their interest in Jamie Elliott is real, but their own off-contract forward is in demand — and a player they’ve delisted has Eagles interest.

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‘FINALLY’: SUNS’ BID FOR PIE RAMPS UP

Gold Coast’s bid for Jamie Elliott has ramped up, with the club finally offering the free agent a contract, according to Nine chief football reporter Tom Morris.

Premiership Magpie Elliott, who’s played 219 games for Collingwood and had a career-best 60-goal season in 2025, is now eligible for free agency after his club fell one step short of making the Grand Final.

The 33-year-old has had a two-year offer from Collingwood on the table for some time, but that contract remains unsigned.

Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph on Monday night told Fox Footy’s On The Couch the Suns were “very keen” on Elliott but “had not offered him a deal in any way” at that stage.

Morris reported on X on Thursday night the Suns had “finally lodged a contract offer” for Elliott, with the club prepared to offer him a three-year deal.

Ralph said Elliott had “huge loyalty” to Collingwood and would ideally “love to finish his career as a one-club player”, but was strongly considering a move to Gold Coast, with family connections at Airlie Beach.

Elliott was one of the Magpies’ best in their two recent finals, booting four goals against both Adelaide and Brisbane.

He played 25 games for the Magpies in 2025 — the first time he’s ever managed to play all possible matches in a season.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick remained cagey on Monday night when asked about his club’s potential interest in Elliott and Carlton’s Charlie Curnow, telling Fox Footy’s AFL 360: “We are trying to improve our list, like every other club at this time of the year.”

It’s also since emerged the Suns have preliminary interest in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who’s almost certain to not be at Western Bulldogs next year,

‘FRONTRUNNER’ IN FOUR-CLUB SUN RACE

The Western Bulldogs are the “frontrunners” for Gold Coast utility Connor Budarick, according to AFL Media reporter Riley Beveridge.

Budarick just completed his sixth season on Gold Coast’s list, playing 19 of a possible 25 games in a new role forward of centre. He kicked two goals against Fremantle in the Suns’ famous one-point elimination final win.

But the 24-year-old has yet to accept a two-year contract offer from Gold Coast amid interest from a host of rival clubs.

Speaking on AFL Trade Radio on Thursday, Beveridge said the Suns had “sold him (Budarick) the vision of being a forward”, but he saw his future “more as a defender” instead.

“The Western Bulldogs though have been hunting that sort of small defender for quite some time, Taylor Duryea has come to the end of his career now,” Beveridge told AFL Trade Radio.

“I still think the Western Bulldogs are the frontrunners here, and I think that that’s been the view of a lot of the clubs in the chase for Connor Budarick right the way through.

“He’s got the offer to the two-year offer to stay at Gold Coast, it’ll take him through to free agency. North Melbourne, Essendon and Brisbane are the other clubs that have had some interest, but I think they’ve been aware for some time that the Western Bulldogs would be the frontrunner if he wants to leave.”

Budarick has played 55 games for the Suns ever since being taken in the 2019 rookie draft.

CUT SUN IN EAGLES’ SIGHTS

Delisted Sun Tom Berry has interest from West Coast, according to AFL Media reporter Josh Gabelich.

Initially drafted by Brisbane before being traded to Gold Coast, Berry has played 43 games in seven seasons, but has no AFL contract for 2026 at this stage.

But Gabelich reported on AFL Media the Eagles were “understood to be one of a few clubs” to inquire about Berry.

Berry, 25, didn’t play an AFL game for Gold Coast in 2025, primarily due to a knee injury.

West Coast is also in the race for Berry’s ex-Lions teammate Brandon Starcevich, who’s weighing up whether to stay in Brisbane or take up an Eagles offer.

The Eagles are waiting on an answer from the AFL on their submission for an draft assistance package could look like, with league chief executive Andrew Dillon telling Fox Footy’s AFL 360 a verdict would likely be handed down next week.

West Coast will lose co-captain Oscar Allen to Brisbane, but that could hand the club a first-round free agency compensation pick, which would land at Pick 2.

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