Bailey Humphrey continues to wrestle with his football future seven months after trying to force a trade out of Gold Coast.

Humphrey is being courted most actively by Hawthorn, Melbourne and Carlton and remains torn between staying at the Suns and being closer to family in country Victoria.

The Suns forward was one of the most intriguing parts of last year’s trade period. At that time Humphrey’s manager Michael Oakes declared the player “has not met with any clubs and doesn’t have any plans to meet with any clubs,” only for a photo to later emerge of him meeting with new Melbourne coach Steven King.

The Dees offered Christian Petracca and their first-round pick for Humphrey before the blockbuster Petracca deal was eventually agreed independently.

The Suns value Humphrey extremely highly and flatly refused to trade him last year, pointing to his contract at the club until the end of 2028.

But the 21-year-old has struggled to re-settle on the Gold Coast this season while he agonises over his future and the forward has managed 8.14 and kicked only two goals in the last month.

It remains to be seen whether Humphrey pushes again for a move and if that resolve will be tested.

But potentially complicating matters is what those interested clubs could give in a trade.

Carlton is committed to Cody Walker and Hawthorn would struggle to generate any realistic capital to satisfy the Suns.

The Demons have two first round picks, one of them coming in that Petracca trade.