Eade wants Suns to source older AFL talent

Rodney Eade doubts Gold Coast needs to look at recruiting another marquee player when Gary Ablett leaves the AFL club.

Ablett's future remains unclear, with ongoing speculation that the 33-year-old will try again at the end of the season for a return to Geelong.

The star onballer also raised the prospect earlier this year that he might retire.

The Suns will definitely be in the market for more experienced players, but Eade forecast after Sunday's loss to St Kilda that they will target specific needs with their recruiting.

Eade is pleased with what Pearce Hanley, Jarrod Witts, Jarryd Lyons and Michael Barlow have given since joining the Suns this season.

"If we can again get the Moneyball situation of getting some players who are not getting games at other clubs or ones we identify, we think we can add to that 23-25 (age) bracket," Eade said.

"We think they're the type of players we need.

"I probably don't think we need a marquee player for the sake of a marquee player.

"We need more to identify positional and age bracket ... the ones who can add experience and fill a hole for us."

Eade said Gold Coast have the second-youngest list in the league and badly need more experience.

After Ablett, co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May are Gold Coast's top players.

Lynch is out of form and May is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club.

The Suns made seven changes for Sunday's loss - six of them forced - but they still pushed the Saints.

Ablett was a late withdrawal from his 300th game with a calf muscle injury.

The decision took Saints coach Alan Richardson by surprise.

"Given he'd done so much promotion (for his 300th), I thought Rocket (Eade) was up to some sort of shifty move," Richardson said.

Eade hopes Ablett will not miss any more matches.

"He's had tight calves before ... we just have to wait and see," he said.

Eade added that Hanley nearly pulled out of Sunday's game with back tightness.

He left the field early in the lasts quarter with hamstring tightness and again, Eade was optimistic that the half-back is not facing a stint on the sidelines.