DAVID Swallow is open to a trade to a rival club this off-season as Gold Coast players rebel against the aggressive attitude of chairman Tony Cochrane.

The No.1 draft pick has missed nearly two full seasons with knee issues, visiting North Melbourne doctor Steve Saunders this year after being handed a pessimistic diagnosis by Gold Coast doctors.

Out of contract at the end of 2017, he had given the club assurances that he would serve the final year of his contract.

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But the 23-year-old was one of several senior players shocked by Cochrane’s savage assessment of departing star Jaeger O’Meara, who will move to a Melbourne club.

It is understood the mild-mannered midfielder stood up in a leadership meeting and staunchly defended O’Meara’s conduct after he was publicly labelled “disloyal” by Cochrane.

Cochrane repeated that assessment to the entire list, which is believed to have been the last straw for an angry Swallow.

media_camera David Swallow in action for Gold Coast’s NEAFL team against Southport. Picture: David Clark

The Herald Sun understands if a trade could be brokered with North Melbourne - where his brother Andrew is the captain - he might consider it this year.

It is believed Saunders told him he could fix his issues within a matter of weeks despite Swallow despairing at his hopes of a full recovery.

He might also be amenable to a trade back to a Perth club as he tries to reboot a career jeopardised by knee issues.

Dion Prestia is expected to move to Richmond for their no. 6 selection, with the potential loss of all three midfielders a devastating blow.

Cochrane repeated his aggressive stance on 3AW yesterday, saying of O’Meara’s London knee surgery, “we have spent a good deal of money on his problems”.

He said if they didn’t get a fair deal for O’Meara the Suns could become “a permanent training camp” for southern clubs.

media_camera Jaeger O'Meara in the NEAFL. Picture: Adam Head media_camera Dion Prestia gets a handball away.

On Friday, Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said the loss of all three would leave the Suns in a “death spiral”.

“Even players on contracts are now almost blackmailing their way from one club to another,” Healy said at a Melbourne Football Club business luncheon.

“And if you get a club which is seemingly in a death spiral, which is Brisbane and maybe the Gold Coast at the present time, it’s hard to see how the death spiral can be arrested.

“You can get the best people up there (to run the club) and ultimately that’s the only thing you can do.

“But you still have to convince young players that senior core group of people are going to deliver for you the chance to play in a premiership.

“And one suspects David Swallow is only six months from making the decision or making public the decision that he is going to come back and play in Melbourne.”