Gold Coast’s reported interest in Dyson Heppell is the latest factor that has soured relationships between the Suns and Essendon at the trade table, says SEN’s Sam Edmund.
Heppell had been tempted by a four-year offer from Gold Coast in recent weeks after the Bombers were slow to offer their skipper a contract for next year.
However, it’s now understood Essendon has come to the table and upped their offer, with all signs pointing to Heppell remaining at the club which drafted him back in 2010.
It follows Essendon’s interest in Suns prodigy Izak Rankine – who is out of contract – earlier this year.
Edmund suggested that Gold Coast wouldn’t be upset that they’ve forced Essendon to pay up for Heppell.
“If you want an understanding of just how ruthless this industry is, the Suns were angered by the Bombers going for Rankine,” he said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“There’s no love lost between the two clubs at the trade table I’m told. So the Suns agreed to pay a portion of Peter Wright’s wage as well in a trade going back a couple of years.
“So if you’re looking at it with a sceptical mind, the Suns have planted the seed and they’ve made Essendon pay more.
“That’s a big ruse to get that far, but what’s fair to say is that there is no love lost between those two clubs.
“Yeah, they were interested in Dyson Heppell. But now that it’s potentially fallen through from a Gold Coast perspective and Essendon has upped their offer, I don’t think their hearts are bleeding over it, to be honest.”
While the Suns staved off Essendon’s interest in Rankine, it appears they’re less likely to be successful with stopping Adelaide.
The Crows have reportedly offered the 22-year-old a five-year, $4 million deal that would see him become the club’s highest-paid player and return to his home state of South Australia.
“(The Suns are) hoping from the best but fearing for the worst, from their point of view at least,” Edmund added on Rankine.