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MATT Rosa has the fresh start he craved after West Coast agreed to trade him to Gold Coast on Wednesday.

The Suns gave the Eagles pick No.31 in exchange for the 28-year-old midfielder, who will add much-needed experience to Gold Coast's on-ball division.

Rosa surprised the 2015 runners-up by requesting a trade last week, with West Coast list manager Craig Vozzo saying soon after that he remained hopeful of convincing Rosa, who was contracted for 2016, to stay.

But Rosa held firm on his request for a move, perhaps sensing that his midfield opportunities with the Eagles could dry up after he started in the substitute's green vest four times this year, including on Grand Final day.

He would have also been mindful that West Coast had bolstered its midfield depth earlier in the NAB AFL Trade Period, acquiring Brisbane Lion Jack Redden and Sydney Swans speedster Lewis Jetta.

Rosa played 168 games for West Coast after he was recruited from the North Ballarat Rebels with pick No.29 in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft.

If the midfielder had stayed with the Eagles, he was due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.



Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said Rosa would fill a need on the Suns’ wing.

"We were after a specialist wingman. We looked at Paul Seedsman. We also had Matt Rosa as part of that planning. When Paul elected to go to Adelaide, then I guess our focus went to Matt," he said.

"We think he can come in and lead from the start, he can play a specific role. He can help structure and lead our team."