Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans has threatened legal action against any player managers who advise potential AFL recruits against joining the Suns.
A fired-up Evans reacted angrily to suggestions from premiership coach and media commentator Mick Malthouse that some talented youngsters aren't keen to be drafted by Gold Coast.
On ABC Grandstand on Sunday, Malthouse told Evans he knew that some gun players had had conversations with their managers about avoiding being drafted to Stuart Dew's strugglers.
"If there are people out there, managers, who are prepared to get up on radio and say 'Don't go to the Gold Coast', we'll have them in court as quick as we can," Evans replied.
"... Tell them to get on the radio and put their balls on the line on radio, and then I'll smash them in the court."
Evans said the club had welcomed several potential draft picks for a tour of the Suns' facilities in recent weeks and none had said that they weren't keen on joining the Suns.
The fiery exchange comes just days after star co-captain Tom Lynch told the club he would look to leave through free agency at the end of the season.
He was promptly stripped of the captaincy and told to stay away from team meetings.
Evans defended his club's handling of the situation that was brought to a flashpoint after Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley revealed he had spoken to Lynch about joining the Pies.
"We had an indication that Tom was going that way so for us it was more about how it was playing out," Evans said.
"I know that it happens and we're all a bit sensitive about so I was surprised it became public and once it did I don't think that did any service to anybody the way it played out."
Evans isn't against the practice of coaches talking to contracted players from other clubs but believes such talks should remain out of the public eye.
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