Gold Coast tall Jack Lukosius has been flagged as "one to watch" this off-season as the Suns' own list planning could see the former Pick 2 selection 'squeezed out' of Carrara.
Lukosius, a product out of South Australia, has long been linked to a potential return to his home state despite inking a four-year deal that has him tied to the Suns for the next two years.
His placing in a Suns jumper has fluctuated over the course of his 115-game career, with the 23-year-old utilised in attack, defence and on the wing after being drafted as one of the best forwards in his class in 2018 - a pool that included teammate Ben King.
In Damien Hardwick's first year at the helm of the league's second-youngest club, Lukosius has spent time at either end of the field and has struggled to have the same impact on the game as he did last year when he booted a career-high 39 goals from 22 matches in a promising partnership with King.
While the latter has taken his game to new heights in 2024, Lukosius has somewhat plateaued - booting more than two goals on just one occasion since the club's season opener against Richmond.
Amid Hardwick's reported interest in luring Richmond dasher Daniel Rioli to the Gold Coast,ย News Corp's Jay Clark has earmarked Lukosius as a potential player of interest ahead of this year's trade period.
"He's one to watch and he's a bit tied up in the Richmond situation," Clark told the Midweek Tackle.ย
"Jack Lukosius' future at Gold Coast does really feel like it's a bit up in the air at the moment.
"Because if Daniel Rioli goes north to join forces with Damien Hardwick up there at the Suns, then does that squeeze out Jack Lukosius or does that make his future a little bit uncertain?
"Certainly there's a bit of talk around the traps that the Suns could look at a move to bring in Rioli and maybe Lukosius is on the way out."
Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide could hold an interest in Luksoius this year, with the Power potentially a more suitable landing spot as they enter a period of change for their key position stocks.
The Power currently don't have an early selection for this year's draft and would be reluctant to part with further picks, however they could attain a stronger draft hand if defender Dan Houston's links to a Victorian return grow stronger.
Adelaide might be in the running for Lukosius, but the Crows will need to hold onto draft selections for 2024 father-son prospect Tyler Welsh, who would be viewed as a key forward in their future planning alongside Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe, while their defensive assets are already formidable.
