Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders is reportedly on the radar of multiple clubs as the cessation of his contract with the Queensland club nears.
Flanders joined the Suns as the 11th overall pick in the 2019 National Draft and has managed 34 games since making his debut in 2020.
The Fish Creek native would play five games in his maiden year in the system before featuring in a career-high 16 matches the following year before games became harder to come by. Flanders would play nine games last year, most of which in the second half of the season, before gaining reported interest in his services despite being contracted for 2023.
That contract is now nearing its end, with Flanders set to have a decision to make on his future in either sticking with the Suns' cause under Stuart Dew or potentially becoming the latest Gold Coast talent to switch back to his home state.
Flanders is yet to commence talks with the Suns on a new deal, according to AFL.com.au,ย who have suggested a host of rival clubs are keeping tabs on the former first-round selection.
The 21-year-old has endured an interrupted 2023 campaign, with a knee injury forcing him to the sidelines last month after featuring in the opening three rounds of the season. He would return for the club's Round 8 clash against Melbourne but would be subbed out of the game for the second straight time.
Flanders has spent recent weeks in the VFL as he looks to make a return to Dew's side, leading the club's reserves with 33.7 disposals, 5.7 disposals, 9.7 marks and 3.3 inside 50s per game.
The Suns struggled to retain trio Izak Rankine, Jack Bowes and Josh Corbett last year, however managed to hold onto contracted pair Brayden Fiorini and Jeremy Sharp despite interest from Collingwood and Fremantle respectively.
Now coming off-contract, Fiorini, Sharp and Flanders could be susceptible to rival bids this year, while teammates Alex Davies, Nick Holman and Malcolm Rosas are also unsigned for 2024.
The Suns' biggest contract concern comes in the form of star forward Ben King, who, despite being signed until the end of next year, is said to be gaining a high level of interest from Victorian clubs.
