Key player has decided to join “Crows Crom”

Gold Coast tall requests a transfer and plans to return home

Chris Burgess has requested a trade after winning back-to-back VFL goalkicking accolades.

GOLD COAST key forward Chris Burgess has told the Suns that he wants to transfer to Adelaide when the trade period opens next week.

 

The 27-year-old is under contract until 2024 but is looking for more opportunities after making only three senior appearances in the last two seasons despite dominating in the reserves.

Burgess has won the previous two Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medals as the VFL’s highest goalkicker – he shared the 2023 title with teammate Brodie McLaughlin – and was instrumental in Gold Coast’s first state league triumph last month.

The South Australian kicked 61.22 goals in 20 games this year, including ten in three finals, after kicking 63 last year and signing a two-year contract extension to stay in Queensland.

Burgess has been courted by a number of teams recently, but as reported in Inside Trading last month, he is said to have told the Suns during his exit meeting that he wants to join the Crows.

The 191cm spearhead, who can also play defense, joins Gold Coast at the end of 2018 after playing in the SANFL for West Adelaide.

As they strive to acquire more draft money to match bids for their Academy products, Gold Coast will help organize a transfer between now and the trade deadline on October 18.

The Suns have a lot of key forward depth and are about to add Jed Walter, who is widely regarded as the finest key forward in this year’s AFL Draft after a stellar underage career that resulted in All-Australian selection in both 2022 and 2023.

Mabior Chol is poised to leave Heritage Bank Stadium in the coming weeks, despite the fact that he has two years remaining on the contract he signed when he moved from Richmond at the end of 2021.

Hawthorn, North Melbourne, and Adelaide have all met with the 26-year-old, who is eager for further opportunities following a spectacular VFL finals campaign in which he kicked five goals in the preliminary final and four in the decider.

The Suns have signed Levi Casboult for a third season after the former Blue had another productive year alongside Ben King and Jack Lukosius.

McLaughlin is unlikely to sign another contract due to the level of forward depth in the AFL, but he could find a new home after scoring 55 goals in his debut season on the list.