GOLD Coast will make Hawthorn work for Jaeger O'Meara's services after the 22-year-old declared the Hawks his preferred destination in the upcoming trade period. 

The Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft made it clear in a statement that they were open to offers for the out-of-contract midfielder.

"Today we were advised from the Hawthorn Football Club and Jaeger’s management that the Hawks is Jaeger’s club of choice," Ashcroft said.

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"As has been previously stated, Jaeger is on the market to a club that can provide us compensation we are prepared to accept."

The Suns have been adamant about getting a good deal for O'Meara who played 44 AFL games for the club before a knee injury kept him sidelined from the AFL for the past two years.

In August, coach Rodney Eade said the club would seek two first round picks in the top 10 for the classy midfielder, while chairman Tony Cochrane said he would be prepared to send O'Meara to the draft if a good deal could not be struck.

The Suns have six picks inside the first 27 selections in this year's NAB AFL Draft and will be looking to recruit both young and ready-made talent for the club after it also lost Dion Prestia, who wants to join Richmond.

Gold Coast has a brilliant young spine but has managed to get just 28 games out of exciting midfielders O'Meara, Prestia and No.1 draft pick David Swallow in the past two seasons.

Hawthorn entered the race late for former Essendon player Jake Carlisle during last year's trade period after Carlisle had declared his intent to join the Saints.

Carlisle eventually joined St Kilda, but the Hawks made the deal a difficult process for the Saints.