GOLD Coast captain Steven May says he wants to assess all of his options before making a decision on his future, and insists he has not told the Suns that he wants to leave.
May still has one year remaining on his contract at Metricon Stadium, but speculation around his future persists following the high profile exit of former co-captain Tom Lynch.
The star forward's decision to exercise his free agency rights ahead of next month's NAB AFL Trade Period has many believing it could trigger another mass exodus at Gold Coast, with May tipped to be the next in line to either request a trade or leave next season.
However, the defender insists he is not yet ready to make a call on where he will be playing his footy in 2019 and beyond, saying he wants his next contract to be a long-term deal.
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"We're just waiting for the season to be over and then we'll assess," May told the Marngrook Footy Show on Wednesday night.
"It's no secret the club wants a long-term commitment from me. But I haven't said I'm leaving, I've just said that if I'm going to sign a long-term deal I just need to assess all of my options because it's probably one of my last contracts.
"I want a long-term deal, so I just want to do the due diligence and speak to the necessary parties and then sit down with the club and make a decision."
Lynch's imminent departure follows that of former captain Gary Ablett the year before, with many questioning the direction of the expansion side.
However, May went into bat for the Suns, saying the club was on the right path with its young group of emerging talent and its first-year coach in Stuart Dew.
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"We have a really good nucleus of young players who you probably haven't heard a lot of yet," May said.
"Guys like Brayden Fiorini, Callum Ah Chee, Jack Bowes, Ben Ainsworth … these guys, once they get a few more games into them, they're actually really impressive.
"We didn't poll a lot of votes on Monday (in the Brownlow Medal), but I think Brayden led our count. He's only played maybe 40 games, if that, so there's plenty there.
"Being on the Gold Coast, we're a bit hidden and you guys don't get to see the young guys week in, week out. But we're definitely heading in the right direction.
"Now we've got 'Dewy' on board and he's had his first year and the growing pains figuring out the team … it's just a really fresh vibe."
