Gold Coast offered to extend Hugh Greenwood’s contract to three years in a failed late scramble to keep him from North Melbourne’s clutches.
Coach Stuart Dew was out of phone range on a bushwalk when the Suns were shocked to learn they had become the target of North’s stunning free agency raid.
Sources said the Kangaroos’ offer is an unconditional two year contract that has generous games-played triggers among the criteria for a third season at Arden Street.
Greenwood was last week surprisingly cut by the Suns to help the club’s list strategy, but the Kangaroos have swooped with what could end up being a three-year contract worth between $1 million and $1.5 million.
Greenwood, who turns 30 in March and had two years to run on his deal at Gold Coast, was promised by the Suns that he would be re-listed during next week's national draft.
But the move, which attracted criticism and prompted Greenwood to defend the club, has since backfired.
North Melbourne presented their offer to Greenwood on Saturday and he formally accepted on Monday afternoon.
North, which ranked 18th for contested ball last season, told Greenwood they want him to play a regular role in their engine room.
Sources said the Suns opted to run the risk on temporarily delisting Greenwood instead of a fringe player because they didn’t think a rival club would snap up a player at Greenwood’s age on a multi-year deal.
The midfielder is also coming off a season-ending torn medial collateral ligament.
While conscious of the “look” of losing the influential Greenwood, the Suns will find salary cap relief with the departure of a player that is unlikely to still be at Metricon Stadium when the Suns see themselves in serious contention.
The move to cut him prompted Greenwood to last week respond on Twitter.
"Still on the primary list. Still on the same contract. Still been medically cleared to train/play for over a month. Still at the Suns. Still see everyone round one,” Greenwood wrote.
“Was happy to cop the odd clickbait article and social nuff if it meant assisting the club's overall list strategy."