The assistance package means certain No.1 pick Matt Rowell in this year's national draft is all but assured of being joined at the Suns by his Carey Grammar school mate and close friend Noah Anderson, as a likely No.2 pick. In effect, picks 2 and 20 this year, pick 11 next year and pick 19 the year after, are headed for the Suns, subject to other compensation picks for free agency. The arrangement is more generous than rival clubs had expected. The AFL's package is a response to the club's dismal on-field results, its ongoing challenges in keeping top players such as Tom Lynch, who left as a free agent last year and has just helped Richmond premiership, along with Dion Prestia (Richmond), Jaeger O'Meara (Hawthorn) and Gary Ablett (Geelong). Even this year, as the Suns have shown signs of improvement under coach Stewart Dew, they are still set to lose Jack Martin, who wants to join Carlton and Callum Ah Chee, who has asked for a trade to the Brisbane Lions. Gordon told The Age that the league had a responsibility to further clarify its decisions.

"I think the AFL ought to explain how the steps it has announced will assist competitive balance for the Suns in 2020 and 2021," Gordon said. "For me, it would have made more sense to provide those picks but to also oblige the Suns to trade those picks for quality mature and experienced players ... which is what they seem to lack and explains why their season tailed off so badly. "The steps they've taken seem to me to be doing more of the same but expecting a different result. You'd hope these matters actually get discussed at Commission meetings." Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans said the Suns were open to using their future picks as trade bait: "It's certainly an option," he said.

"[Recruiting manager] Craig Cameron would kill me if I didn't say, we're open for business. "If someone wants those picks, come after them hard." But Evans said he doubted the Suns would trade away this year's top draft picks. "The AFL Commission have not imposed any restriction on what we do with those selections," Evans said. "They could be traded, but I would imagine picks one and picks two would be hard to prise out of our hands." Adelaide, who received Carlton's first-round pick via a draft-night trade last year, were among the losers from the package, slipping from pick No.3 to No.4 this year. The Crows had made a submission to the AFL arguing that it would be unfair for a priority pick to be awarded given clubs had dealt future picks last year.

The Suns found an ally in the form of Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham, who supported the AFL measures. "I think they need help and it's good to see that the AFL Commission has recognised that in a meaningful way," Pridham told The Age. Loading "Each of the Northern State clubs have their unique challenges/disadvantages. The player access package for the Gold Coast is just part of the picture. "I believe that it is time for a detailed review of the Northern States business model – on-field and off-field. The ever-present player and coach go home factor is real and significant as are the unique financial pressures faced by clubs in the non-traditional football states.”

The Suns had asked for a salary cap allowance to help address their retention problem, but AFL boss Gillon McLachlan, has a strong view that salary caps should not be compromised. AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said a three-year assistance package was needed for a sustainable solution to the Gold Coast's challenges. "It really gives them that ability now to draft two high-end players and give them that ability to build, but it was debated strongly," Dillon said. Under the assistance deal, aimed at lifting the struggling club, the AFL will also allow the Suns to simply list their academy players without bidding. In effect, they can simply list the players from their academy zone without going through the draft. This means the likes of Connor Budarick – rated as prospective third-round pick this year – as well as talented bottom-ager Alex Davies (2020 draft) and under-16 All-Australian Austin Harris (2021) could also be added to the Suns' list without the club paying a price in the draft. As part of the package, the Suns' academy zone now includes Darwin, which will allow Gold Coast to acquire NT prospect Malcolm Rosas this year.