Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett is set to make a call on his playing future before the AFL grand final.
Ablett will meet with his manager Liam Pickering while in Melbourne for the Brownlow Medal ceremony and is widely expected to seek a trade back to Geelong for family reasons.
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner requested a trade to the Cats at the end of last season, but was denied by the Suns.
Earlier this year he said retirement wasn't out of the question if he didn't get back to the club he played 192 games for before his high-profile move at the end of 2010.
Pickering would not be drawn on his star client's intentions when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.
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"We'll have a discussion next week when he's in town on Monday or Tuesday so it will be clearer then," Pickering said at the launch of AFL Trade Radio.
"(But) if (a trade) is what his desire is then it's going to be up to the clubs to work something out. Obviously he's a contracted player, so Gold Coast would have to be satisfied.
"Financially it wouldn't be an issue at all, but the first part is actually making sure that that's what he wants to do.
"Obviously we asked for the trade last year, but things can change in a year which is why we need to catch up next week."
Geelong coach Chris Scott has stated publicly that he doubts a deal can be done, with the Suns' asking price too high.
Pickering said Ablett would clearly not play for the same amount of money as he has been earning on the Gold Coast if he were to wind up with the Cats.
Suns chairman Tony Cochrane has been steadfast in his position that Ablett is a required player and won't be traded.
Pickering is of the belief that Ablett couldn't have done much more for the club in his seven seasons there.
"He's had a bit of injury the last couple of years but four best-and-fairests, he's the only Brownlow medallist in the club's history, All-Australian captain and he's helped win a lot of games for them," Pickering said.
"I think he's held his end of the bargain up, for sure."
