GOLD Coast has locked away a major piece in its rebuild by securing Queensland local Jack Bowes for the next five years.
AFL.com.au understands the rising midfielder has committed to the Suns until at least the end of 2024 in a deal to be announced in coming weeks.
EVERY INDIGENOUS GUERNSEY Vote on your favourite
It comes as the Suns' list management team edges towards a fresh extension for Victorian teammate Ben Ainsworth until 2022.
Bowes and Ainsworth, both top-10 selections in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft, are due to fall out of contract at the end of next season.
YOUR CLUB'S TARGETS Our experts analyse the Mid-Season Rookie Draft
After losing co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May, plus young stars Jaeger O'Meara and Dion Prestia in recent years, the Suns have moved to sign players long-term.
Bowes will soon join current co-captains David Swallow and Jarrod Witts on five-year deals.
MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT Former players, brothers of star on the list
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakout third season in 2019, averaging 21.2 disposals a game opposed to some of the competition's leading midfielders.
After a brutal pre-season campaign where he ran 30-40 per cent more kilometres more than 2018, Bowes has been one of the mainstays in the Suns' onball brigade.
In back-to-back wins against Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs in rounds 2-3, Bowes went head-to-head with Dockers captain Nat Fyfe and Dogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli.
A Cairns local, Bowes was the first player taken from the Suns' Academy in 2016.
Find Trends on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify
He joined the Academy as a 13-year-old in 2011 before moving to the Gold Coast for the final two years of his junior pathway.
Now seen as a future leader of the club, Bowes has since invested his own time with Academy prospects to develop the next wave of talent.
The Suns are still hopeful of landing Peter Wright after positive pre-season discussions on a three-year deal, with Jack Martin another priority signing.
The West Australian is set to fall out of contract at season's end and is being chased by several clubs including St Kilda.
