2026 was supposed to be a season that franked the successes of the last.
The Suns' maiden finals appearance and maiden finals victory was believed to be only the beginning - a notion only furthered by the off-season acquisition of Christian Petracca. The credentialed former Demon started his first season in the red and yellow like a house on fire, and the Suns rocketed into premiership favouritism because of it.
The wheels have fallen off since that rampaging beginning, and with the club now facing an uphill battle to feature even in the Wildcard Round, attention has turned to what shapes as yet another busy off-season. Spearheads established and emerging in Ben King and Jed Walter, are rumoured to be headed for the exits.
How do the Suns replace the production of the pair, maximise their yields at the trade table, and designate 2026 as a detour on the road to premiership glory, as opposed to a change in direction entirely? Who are some of the names that could aid that end?
Read on to find out!
3. Ed Allan
Fresh from giving their skipper a bath, and out of contract himself, 'Pie Ed Allan should be on the Suns' radar.
Despite being a first-round pick, lauded for his running prowess, Allan has struggled for consistent first team minutes in his desired position over the journey in the black and white. He has recently added a defensive/tagging aptitude string to his bow, as evidenced by the role on Noah Anderson, last time out.
He would add a different dimension to the Suns' engine room, and would be a 'set and forget' magnet for years to come. Expect Collingwood to try and secure this piece of their future as the season rolls on, but Hardwick and co should be pitching the Glitter Strip lifestyle to the young West Australian behind the scenes.
