GOLD Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft says the Suns are prepared to make Josh Caddy enter the NAB AFL Draft if a reasonable trade can't be arranged.

The 20-year-old, who was the No.7 selection in the 2010 draft, wants to return to Victoria.

"We respect that," Ashcroft told Gillette AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday.

"He had the courage to come forward and tell the club, after the last game, that that's what he wants to do.

"He's had discussions with other clubs and we're not entirely sure as to which clubs they were specifically, but at the moment he's having those discussions and it's up to himself and that club to work out the best fit for Josh."

Caddy is not a free agent, so any deal for him will need to be completed during trade period, which begins on Monday.

He is being pursued by a number of clubs, including Geelong, St Kilda and North Melbourne, and the Suns are promising to drive a hard bargain.

"From a club point of view, we'll only work out a deal that's going to give the club the best outcome," Ashcroft said.

"He played only two games in his first year, but this year he played every game, and the development that our guys have put into him over two years is hard to measure.

"How do you rate his potential? He might well go into a side next year and play up to All Australian potential.

"We need to add all those things up and make a calculated and considered judgement, and hopefully a deal is worked out."

Asked if Gold Coast would force Caddy into the draft if a suitable trade deal does not eventuate, Ashcroft said: "Potentially."

Geelong is seen as having a good chance to snare Caddy because it still has one of its Gary Ablett compensation picks up its sleeve.

"Now that Gold Coast are accepting that he needs to come home for personal reasons, we'd certainly be very interested to see what happens," the Cats' football manager, Neil Balme, said.

"I don't think we're the only ones who would like to have Josh Caddy. I think you've got 17 clubs … that want to get him."

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