The AFL's bumper pay deal is having an immediate impact, with Gold Coast's Steven May set to become the latest player to extend his contract.
Essendon's Joe Daniher, Adelaide's Taylor Walker and West Coast's Luke Shuey are among the big-name players to have agreed to new deals in the past week, and Suns co-captain May is next in line.
The flurry of activity comes after the AFL and the players association last Tuesday signed off on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Players will cash in on a whopping 20 per cent pay increase this year under the $1.84 billion deal, while the salary cap increases from $10.37 million per club to $12.4 million.
This has helped clubs to lock away players while boosting their war chests for the pursuit of big-name recruits later this year.
Key defender May had been linked to a possible move to Hawthorn but the 25 year-old has confirmed he is close to signing with the Suns.
"Talks are going pretty well and hopefully pretty soon something should get done," he said on Tuesday.
"I'm very confident. Just the little things the manager and the club are working through, but (from) all indications from my management and the club, it all looks pretty positive.
"The CBA is done now so hopefully in the coming weeks, maybe sooner, we should hear something."
While the new CBA could help clubs to retain players in some cases, it is also likely to make it easier for rivals to make enormous offers to superstar players weighing their future.
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin - a restricted free agent - and Greater Western Sydney's Josh Kelly are the chief targets for several cashed-up Victorian clubs.
A number of emerging stars could also test the market, including Western Bulldogs speedster Jason Johannisen and Adelaide's Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern.
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