GOLD Coast is set to announce the signing of VFL forward Josh Corbett as soon as Wednesday under special AFL dispensation rules afforded to the two bottom teams.
Corbett will not test in front of clubs at the NAB AFL Draft Combine and AFL.com.au understands the Suns are set to confirm his signing in the coming days.
The Suns have signalled that the 190cm forward is a player of interest to them, with club recruiters regularly attending his games while playing for Werribee this season.
Although the AFL rules surrounding Carlton's and Gold Coast's access to top state league players remain vague, it is understood the bottom two teams from this season will be able to recruit, or on-trade, the state league players without giving up a draft pick.
NEW RULE Blues, Suns get extra help
The Blues will be able to pre-list two players who have previously been eligible for the draft or previously played with an AFL club, while the Suns will have access to three players.
A strong making tall forward, Corbett was averaging 7.6 marks per game when an eye injury curtailed his breakout year in the VFL.
He also kicked 22 goals in nine games.
It is believed Corbett does not have an issue in uprooting from Melbourne and moving to Queensland, with the Werribee product touring the Suns' facilities earlier in the year.
CORBETT PROFILE Meet the VFL star forward
The 22-year-old was named the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist following a standout season, with the award presented to the most promising young talent in the VFL competition.
Past winners of the award include Bayley Fritsch (2017), Luke Ryan (2016), Adam Marcon (2015), Nic Newman (2014) and Kane Lambert (2013).
