The names of Gold Coast pair Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine continue to be raised amid the topic of potential future trades.
Both players hail from South Australia and have been linked with a return to their home state ever since they were drafted with picks two and three respectively in 2018.
Lukosius and Rankine come out of contract next year, so will be moving nowhere this trade period, but expect plenty of interest in them in 2022.
Kane Cornes believes both players have enormous unfulfilled potential and as a result will be on the radar of both Port Adelaide and Adelaide in the lead up to the next trade period.
“Rankine and Lukosius, now they’re not out of contract, we understand that, and they’re not free agents,” Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio.
“But they are one year out from their contract expiring. I don’t think either of them have reached anywhere near their potential, particularly Izak Rankine.
“Lukosius floats across half-back, doesn’t play with a lot of urgency but the talent is obvious.
“Both Port Adelaide and the Crows will be right into them because of the South Australian connection.
“You’d be surprised if Adelaide haven’t been in the ear of those two.”
AFL Media’s Mitch Cleary says tracking the SA pair is something the Power and Crows simply have to do, indicating that there is “definite interest” from the two clubs.
He says Adelaide’s pursuit of the duo will be an intriguing watch.
“That’s what clubs have to do,” Cleary said.
“There’s Victorian clubs doing that to the Power and Crows the minute Victorians get drafted to South Australia and every state.
“As for right now with Adelaide, and going back a little bit we spoke about could the Crows go all in on Jason Horne-Francis and try and move up in the draft.
“I think you’ll see that the Crows won’t be able to do that because they’ll be using their future pick and they’ll be trying to move picks into next year’s draft to go after Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine.
“We spoke about Ben King and do the Bombers and Saints stockpile picks for the 2022 draft and know they can go after a player like Ben King in next year’s trade period.
“Well, watch to see the Crows and Power try and have as many picks as they can for next year because they know that Lukosius and Rankine are coming out of contract.
“Those guys could re-sign at Gold Coast, but there is definite interest from the South Australian clubs.”
Lukosius, 21, has now tallied 60 games for the Suns and finished 10th in their best and fairest this year, while Rankine, who was omitted late this season, has played 30 games.