CLUBS who want to recruit Gold Coast star Jaeger O'Meara will need to give up two top-10 draft picks to secure him, according to coach Rodney Eade.

However the coach said the club remained reasonably confident of retaining O'Meara and said the offer they have made reflected how highly the Suns rated him.

What will it cost to get O'Meara?

Eade compared the 22-year-old star, whose past two seasons have been wracked with injury, to Collingwood recruit Adam Treloar who was traded from Greater Western Sydney at the end of last season for two first round draft picks.

"He's a year younger than Treloar, he's as good a player [plus] his leadership we think he would be worth two first round picks in the top 10," Eade said.

Clubs can now trade future first round draft picks, which allows quality players to be traded for closer to market value.

O'Meara has not played senior football since round 23, 2014 after not missing a game in his first two seasons, but he won the 2013 NAB Rising Star award and finished third in the Suns’ best and fairest.

He is considered capable of becoming one of the game's best midfielders when fit and remains an attractive prospect for a number of clubs.

Eade said the club's other out of contract midfielder, Dion Prestia, had indicated to the club that if he did leave it would be for family reasons, but said the decision was difficult for the 23-year-old because he had good friends on the Gold Coast after being there for six seasons.

Eade said it would be a setback to lose either player but it was a reality of modern football and the Suns' record at retaining players remained very good.

"This period is going to be a really aggressive trade period but I think we have to get used to [it]," Eade said.

"We haven't lost many as a club. It would be a setback but we'd move on and get some compensation and get some players in."

Industry sources suggest Richmond is the frontrunner for Prestia but there is uncertainty about whether O'Meara will stay at the Suns or move to Victoria.