Gold Coast utility Connor Budarick has reportedly requested a trade to the Western Bulldogs following a meeting with the club earlier this week, per AFL Media's Riley Beveridge.
According to AFL Media's Josh Gabelich, Budarick had met with North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, touring the facilities of both Arden Street and the Whitten Oval while the out-of-contract speedster weighed up his contract call.
A two-year deal had been made available to him by the Suns, but greater positional opportunities that Budarick favours at the Bulldogs, as well as increased contract length, has seen the 24-year-old opt to depart his home state.
"He's toured Arden Street and the Whitten Oval, and it is down to those two clubs if he is to depart the Gold Coast Suns," Gabelich said on AFL Trade Radio on Thursday morning.
"I believe they both have three-year offers on the table for Connor Budarick."
Despite being drafted in 2019 as a lockdown small defender, the Academy prospect has found himself in multiple roles under Damien Hardwick due to the acquisition of Daniel Rioli and John Noble down back.
Budarick notably played as a pressure forward in 2025, which saw him achieve a career-best 19 games this season and 2.9 score involvements per game.
However, Gabelich believes Budarick wants to return to the familiarity of defence and will leave the Suns on this basis.
"Both [the Kangaroos and Bulldogs] see him as a small defender, where if you look at the role he played this year under Damien Hardwick, it was more as a pressure forward," Gabelich said.
"He is a small defender who wants to play there. I think the opportunities for him going forward won't be at the Gold Coast Suns.
"He's got a big decision to make. He's an Academy boy, a Queenslander. He's gone through a bit with his body, two knee reconstructions, got back into the team this year.
"If he wants to play as a small defender, it might be elsewhere."
