It's vital now that we get back into the first round this year. Gold Coast's first pick will be for sale. They have three highly-rated academy kids, one of whom (Walter) will attract a very early bid, so they won't want their pick swallowed up.
There were murmurings of Dusty to Gold Coast last year. I don't know if there was anything to them or if he'd want to go (more likely if Dimma takes the job) but if we could get back into the top-10 by saying goodbye to our beloved champion, it would be smart business. It wouldn't tarnish his legacy one iota for me. I know it's different circumstances but Hodge is and will always be a Hawthorn legend.
Otherwise we should seriously consider who else we could part with, and/or think about trading next year's first.
If its top 10, I reckon they'd want something back, but I tend to agree. Marquee signing for them and wouldn't necessarily just be about what he does on the field. Its what he can do about putting bums on seats. If they need something to try and get people through the door, whats better than one of the most decorated coaches of the modern era and the most decorated player of the modern era? Makes a lot of business sense for the Suns and IMO the AFL would likely help them out with some of the salary being paid outside the cap. They can justify it as a ROI type of thing. Dusty could have a very nice top up of his super by moving up there.
I'd love him to be a 1 club player too, but there is certainly validity in the argument.
If we could roll Sam Flanders into that deal and still get their 1st rounder, it would be a great deal. We'd have to give something up though and it probably wouldn't be another player but a later draft pick (probs our 2nd), but Dusty and our 2nd for Flanders and their 1st could work for both clubs. We add a 22 year old mid to our mid group and a top 10 draft pick.