Gold Coast have already had preliminary discussions with player agents about locking away their trio of top-six draft picks beyond their initial two-year terms.

Thursday night’s opening round of the draft was a crucial night in the development of the hitherto underperforming expansion club as the Suns signed three potential stars of the future - South Australians Jack Lukosius (pick two) and Izak Rankine (pick three), as well as Victorian Ben King (pick six).

New Suns (from left) Ben King, Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius. Already there is speculation about their future. Credit:AAP

Player retention has been an issue for Gold Coast, something the Suns have recognised by bolstering their football department in a bid to help draftees from interstate settle at the club.

Gold Coast did however secure all four of their top-10 picks from the 2016 draft (Ben Ainsworth, Jack Scrimshaw, Will Brodie and Jack Bowes) before the start of the 2017 season, with the quartet all re-committing to end of 2020. It hasn’t quite gone to plan though, with Scrimshaw already leaving Gold Coast via a trade to Hawthorn last month.