Young Essendon ruckman Nick Bryan only just made his AFL debut on the weekend, and has already received interest from a rival team.
According to North Melbourne great David King, the Gold Coast Suns have lodged a bid for the 19-year old.
Bryan showed good signs in his first appearance at AFL level against Carlton on Sunday, accumulating 12 disposals, five of which were contested, grabbing three marks, laying three tackles and palming 19 hitouts.
And King believes that the Suns are looking to poach Bryan before his stocks climb, much like how the Saints tried to lure Bombers ruckman Sam Draper.
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The dual premiership Kangaroo revealed the trade whisper on Fox Footy's First Crack.
“I heard a whisper that maybe the Suns have thrown a bit of cash at Nick Bryan, who played his first game for Essendon today, a little bit like St Kilda did with Sam Draper a couple of years ago,” King said.
“Offer $300-400,000 a year and try and lure him out before he becomes a name - I’ve heard a three-year deal at about $400,000 a year.”
Bryan was drafted to the Bombers out of the Oakleigh Chargers with Pick 38 in the 2019 AFL draft.
Fox Sports reports that Essendon has tabled a two-year deal to Bryan worth less than the Gold Coast offer.
He would help add to the Suns' ruck stocks which are currently being tested after Jarrod Witts last month suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
Mat Conroy will also miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury, while Zac Smith returned via the VFL on the weekend from a PCL issue.
