Gold Coast SUNS Chairman Tony Cochrane has today released the following statement:

After five years and 44 games Jaeger O'Meara has notified the club he wishes to find a new home interstate in 2017.

The club traded two first round selections to the GWS Giants to secure Jaeger as a 17-year-old, spent 12 months developing him prior to him being eligible to make his AFL debut, saw him impress on-the field in his first two seasons and have then spent the last two seasons investing time and resources into rehabilitating his knee following multiple surgeries with the club's utmost support.

As Jaeger doesn't qualify as a Free Agent, AFL rules dictate he holds no rights to determine his destination of choice.

With that being the case, Jaeger is on the market to a club that can provide us compensation we are prepared to accept.

Should an appropriate exchange not be met he will have the option to enter the draft.

It's the right time for the club to make a stance. And we do so for the sake of our current players, supporters, partners and the thousands of junior AFL participants who are building the foundation of this club.