Suns trade pick to sign Pendlebury and protect King compensation
Gold Coast Suns may trade a late draft pick to acquire Scott Pendlebury. This protects their higher compensation pick for losing Ben King to Hawthorn.
Ben King is leaving Gold Coast for Hawthorn on a seven-year deal worth more than $9 million. The Suns earn pick No. 7 as compensation.
The AFL's free agency system counts a club's net ins and outs. Pendlebury's arrival could lower that pick.
To protect the valuable compensation pick, Gold Coast may need to trade pick 75 to Collingwood for Pendlebury. Pendlebury is an unrestricted free agent after 21 seasons and 442 games with Collingwood.
The Suns are offering him a two-year deal worth around $600,000. A similar situation happened in 2017 when Brisbane traded pick 75 for Luke Hodge to protect their compensation pick.
- More than 9 million dollars
- King's deal value
- Pick No. 7
- Compensation pick
- Around 600,000 dollars
- Pendlebury's deal
- 442 games in 21 seasons
- Pendlebury's games at Collingwood
Why it mattersThe rule creates an odd incentive for teams. Sometimes getting a proven veteran costs more in draft picks than it saves. This forces clubs to choose between aging talent and future draft flexibility.
AustraliaSuns supporters watching both Ben King depart and Scott Pendlebury arrive will see the AFL's compensation system playing out in real time, shaping how the club rebuilds.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 8 d ago
