Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has responded to the recent report suggesting Carlton superstar Charlie Curnow is seeking a move to the Suns.
The shock rumour arose on Tuesday, revealing that Curnow is chasing a lifestyle change and is keen to leave the Blues in favour of the Suns.
Carlton isn't expected to grant Curnow a trade, given he is under contract until the end of 2029, but his desire to venture to Queensland has reportedly been made clear to the club.
Sydney and Geelong have also been named as potential landing spots for Curnow, who is said to be keen to leave the Melbourne bubble and live near the coast.
Quizzed on the suggestion of Curnow being keen to join the Suns, Hardwick stressed that the club is keen to bring "the very best players" to Carrara.
The Gold Coast coach said the heads of rival players are being turned given Gold Coast's emerging list and the club's location.
"I think this time of the year, you can understand there are names being bandied around and all of that sort of stuff," Hardwick said.
"Like every other club, we're trying to improve our list.
"Taking the Curnow name out of it, what I do know is people will start to look at Gold Coast as an unbelievable lifestyle. Trust me, I know. I live it.
"But more importantly, they're looking at the emerging side that we've got and thinking 'This side is looking pretty good'.
"We can understand people, hopefully, want to come here, and want to join in on this journey. As we said last year, we're wanting to bring the very best players to our footy club."
Swans coach Dean Cox played down the idea of Curnow venturing to Sydney.
"There just reports in my mind," the Sydney coach said.
"Charlie's contracted for a number of years, and he's a Carlton player at the minute."
What the Suns, or Swans, could send to Carlton to appease the club in any deal for Curnow remains a mystery.
The Suns do hold three first-round picks for this year's AFL Draft; however will need a substantial amount of draft points to attain a handful of their top-rated Academy prospects, with Dylan Patterson and Zeke Uwland both being potential top five picks.
Gold Coast have all of their best assets tied up to contracts for the coming years, with the squad looking settled under Hardwick in his second year at the helm.
The Suns are in line for their first-ever finals finish this year, currently sitting eighth on the ladder and having a game in hand ahead of Round 20.
