The Gold Coast Suns are on the cusp of their first finals berth in club history, barring a shock loss to the Bombers at People First Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Suns' long-awaited leap into contention arguably stemmed from their highly successful 2024 trade period, landing a pair of elite half-backs in John Noble and Daniel Rioli that have shaped their transition football from the defensive 50.
While the improvement has been much appreciated by the success-starved Suns faithful, there are still some ways to go, as the Suns still lack outside running support options for their dominant midfield and consistent small forward options who are able to crumb at the feet of spearhead Ben King.
So, where can they make upgrades, and which out-of-contract players could the Suns realistically add as they enter their first premiership window under Damien Hardwick?
We take a look at five trade and free agency targets for the Gold Coast to consider this year.
3Dylan Shiel
Shiel is unlikely to receive a contract offer from the Bombers for 2026, placing the veteran as a strong option for many clubs in the midfield market.
Shiel wouldn't necessarily be a long-term option for the Suns, being 32 years old, but he would bolster their midfield depth for 2026, potentially becoming a rotation option during the season if injuries to key midfield players occur or if the Suns seek to manage their stars throughout the campaign.
Additionally, out-of-favour midfielders Alex Davies and Alex Sexton may look to move elsewhere this off-season, depleting Gold Coast's midfield depth further. Having an experienced player come in to cover those losses would be helpful, and provide a relatively young core of players with valuable leadership for a pivotal campaign.
Despite struggling for consistent AFL opportunities this season, Shiel has proven he still has the capabilities to dominate when given the chance, including in minutes on the wing rather than at centre bounces.
In the Bombers' Round 24 clash against Carlton, Shiel collected 30 disposals, took eight marks, gained 448 metres and contributed to six score involvements while attending just 56 per cent of centre bounces, highlighting his ability to dynamically switch between roles, which could be of benefit to the Suns.
