GOLD COAST has hosed down speculation about a move to bring Collingwood premiership defender Heath Shaw to the club.

Speaking at the opening day of Gillette Trade Period at Etihad Stadium, Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said the club was relatively pleased with the state of its playing list.


"We've invested a lot in young talent," Ashcroft said.

"It's a fine balance between experience and youth and we believe we have the right mix of both. We want to see our young guys develop more, part of that equates to winning more games and pushing to play finals footy.

"We take the view that we will continue to improve and develop next year and we have put a lot of faith and trust in our young players to grow again in 2014," he said.

Shaw is on the way out at Collingwood, although he has two years remaining on his contract. The Magpies have indicated a willingness to move him on, and the 28-year-old was an absentee from the Copeland Trophy on Saturday night.

Ashcroft also dismissed as a "total rumour" that midfielder and former No.1 draft selection David Swallow was considering a move to Melbourne.