- The Suns have re-signed their star player through 2030 to a monster contract
- Star, 20, was also being pursued by Hawthorn.
Gold Coast forward Mac Andrew has renewed his contract with Gold Coast until the end of 2030 in what could become the richest deal in AFL history.
A key defender by trade, Andrew made a big impact towards the end of the season when he moved into the forward role.
The 20-year-old kicked three goals against West Coast in Round 21 and then four against Essendon a week later, including the winner after the final siren.
Andrew was already under contract through 2025 and the five-year extension means he is now the longest-contracted player on the Suns.
The new deal is reported to be extended for another four years if certain targets are met, and would surpass the $10 million over nine years that Lance Franklin earned in Sydney.
Hawthorn were among the clubs keen to lure Andrew but the athletic forward is keen to achieve the maximum on the Gold Coast.
“I love everything about this place. I’ve made my own home here and I have great support,” Andrew said in a statement.
‘I’m really looking forward to being part of the first team to win a championship on the coast.
Mac Andrew (pictured) could earn more than $10 million with the Suns, which would surpass the huge salary received by Lance Franklin with the Sydney Swans
The 20-year-old has attracted interest from other clubs, including Hawthorn, with a big game in 2024 but wants to win a flag with Gold Coast.
‘Being the first to do that would be very special and something I really want to be a part of.
“It’s pretty clear that we’re headed in the right direction and I just want to play my part in what will be something great.”
In 2021, Andrew became the first player of South Sudanese descent to be selected in the top five of the national draft after being selected by the Suns with the No. 5 pick.
In Fremantle, the Dockers delisted Matt Taberner, Ethan Hughes, Sebit Kuek and Conrad Williams.
Taberner is the most high-profile player of the quartet, having scored 173 goals in 125 games.
The 31-year-old’s best season was in 2021, when he scored 37 goals in 16 games.
Taberner also kicked seven goals against Essendon in Round 5 of 2022.
Andrew, standing at 202cm, is known as a key defender but a late-season switch to forward sparked some of his best form.
But a devastating series of back injuries forced him to sit on the sidelines for long periods in recent years and he has now been overtaken in the pecking order by Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy and Patrick Voss.
Taberner has played just five games this year and scored six goals, after making just four appearances in 2023.
Hughes has played 107 games for Fremantle since making his debut in 2015, including 20 last year.
But he was selected for the senior team only six times this season.
Kuek joined Fremantle via the 15th pick in the 2022 mid-season draft, but tore his ACL in July 2023 and was unable to play a senior game for the Dockers.
Williams graduated from the club’s Next Generation Academy and was selected by Fremantle as a Category B rookie in the 2022 draft period, but never made his AFL debut.
At the Western Bulldogs, veteran Taylor Duryea and forward Lachie McNeil will remain at Whitten Oval after signing new deals.
McNeil, 23, has signed for two more seasons, while Duryea will play through the 2025 season.
The pair follow in the footsteps of Buku Khamis, who signed for two more seasons earlier this week.