GOLD Coast remains uncertain as to whether the AFL will follow through on the entirety of the assistance package it offered to the expansion club late last year, as the League continues to work through what footy could look like in the wake of the game's shutdown.
In among an abundance of additional early NAB AFL Draft picks over the next three years, the Suns were provided an increased rookie list size and an expanded Academy access zone that encompassed Darwin as part of a series of AFL concessions.
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As a result, Gold Coast currently has 50 players on its list – including 40 senior-listed players, seven rookies and three Category B rookies.
However, with speculation the draft could be slashed in size to accommodate reduced list sizes going forward, it leaves the Suns in danger of losing significant aspects of their assistance package.
Speaking on Friday morning, Gold Coast football boss Jon Haines said the club is still working closely with the League in regard to what the assistance package could look like in the future, but said it was yet to receive clarity on whether it would still be delivered.
"We've been working really closely with the AFL, obviously," Haines said.
"Not only through weekly or by-weekly GM of footy meetings, but also more club-to-AFL discussions on what it means for the northern states being the four clubs in New South Wales and Queensland.
"All of that stuff is certainly on the table. I think the view of the AFL and certainly from our point of view is that we're looking to build this from the ground-up again, in terms of building a model for the future and what a contemporary footy department looks like.
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"But also, we need to take into account what the special needs that clubs in Queensland and New South Wales need in order to be able to maintain some competitive balance and also maintain the AFL's focus on growing the game up here.
"We need to make sure we don't lose sight of that, whatever the new model is."
