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!
5. Joel Amartey
If the Suns lose Walter and King in the same off-season, then key forward stocks obviously become an area of concern.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan does not appear to be the sole answer. Read's aforementioned versatility is handy, but he too, is not the foundation of a flag-winning forward line.
Joel Amartey could go some ways to changing their fortunes.
Another unrestricted free agent, expect the Suns to have a throw at the stumps in the hopes of landing the 26-year-old, as he continues battling for meaningful minutes, and impact within them, in a crowded Swans' forward line.
