HAWTHORN youngster Aidan Schubert will request a trade to Gold Coast as Ben King's move to the Hawks nears.
Schubert, an athletic forward/ruck, only signed a two-year extension at the Hawks in June, but now wants to head to the Suns.
Schubert travelled to the Suns facility on Tuesday with his family and returned home on Wednesday after a day at Gold Coast being shown the club, and meeting with coach Damien Hardwick and key staff.
He is set to take up a five-year deal at the Suns.
The one-gamer has become a key storyline in this year's trade period given the Suns' significant interest in luring him north in a trade that would sit separate to Hawthorn's free agency move for King. The Hawks lodged the paperwork for King's move on Tuesday.
Gold Coast is now seemingly unlikely to match the Hawks' offer to King, meaning the Suns are set to accept a compensation pick – likely No.7 – for his departure.
The Hawks and Suns have been in constant dialogue in recent weeks about a player trade being a priority for the Suns, otherwise Gold Coast would match a deal and force a trade for King where it would look for a player to be involved in a deal.
That intensified last week when Hawthorn upped the ante and its offer to Calsher Dear and he re-signed for two years.
Schubert, who was one of the youngest players in last year's draft and doesn't turn 19 until December, was taken at pick No.23 and made his AFL debut in round 21.
The Suns started targeting Schubert in July when it became clear the Hawks were King's destination.
More to come