RIVAL clubs have expressed interest in Gold Coast's Rory Thompson, but the contracted key defender is unlikely to be traded, according to his manager.

Thompson is contracted with the Suns until the end of 2019. He had been due to come out of contract at the end of this season, but signed a two-year extension last November.

The Southport product stamped himself as one of the most exciting young key defenders in the competition when, as a 22-year-old in his third season, he finished fourth in the Suns' 2013 best and fairest award.

But the 200cm backman's development has been stymied by injuries ever since, with hamstring and quadriceps strains restricting him to seven games in 2017.

It was reported last week Thompson was among several Suns who could be on the trade table next month, the others including Aaron Hall, Tom Nicholls, Brandon Matera, Trent McKenzie and Matt Shaw.

Thompson's manager, Liam Pickering of Precision Sports Entertainment Group, believes the defender will stay with the Suns but says the shock move of his client Jordan Lewis from Hawthorn to Melbourne last year is proof nothing is certain during trade period.

"This time last year I didn't think we'd ever be discussing Jordan Lewis (being traded), so things change," Pickering said at the launch of NAB AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday.

"There are a number of players I would have thought sitting here right now who are going to [stay] at the clubs that they are at. (But) like Jake (Stringer) when he went in for his end of season interview (with the Western Bulldogs), he thinks things are good and then all of a sudden finds out they're not and you might be on the move.

"(There is) a lot of water to go under the bridge. We talk about, is this going to be a very hectic trade period?

"Well, we don't know because clubs get busy and they do a lot of talking behind the scenes, they do a lot of talking that we don't know about as player managers and players don't know about, so things that seem highly unlikely end up becoming reality.

"Rory is contracted for two more seasons. There are always clubs that ask about him – he's a 200cm, mobile full-back, there are not many of them around – so that's obviously been discussed at times, but to me it's unlikely that he'll be at another club given his contract status."

Pickering also manages out-of-contract Suns McKenzie and Shaw, who appear almost certain to seek fresh starts after struggling for senior opportunities this season.

Half-back/wingman Shaw has already been linked to Carlton, while McKenzie's booming left foot is likely to earn him a second chance at another AFL club.

Pickering said if the 25-year-old Victorians sought trades, they would be hopeful of returning home.