Michael Rischitelli just Lion in the Gold Coast Suns

Lion Michael Rischitelli could be going to Gold Coast. Picture: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail

While Michael Rischitelli is believed to be committed to a switch from the Brisbane Lions to the new club, he is uneasy about any announcement until after Brisbane's best-and-fairest count next Thursday night - a count he very well might win.

Despite the fact the Lions tried to shunt him off to Carlton last summer in the early stages of the Fevola deal, it would be decidedly awkward for Rischitelli to accept the club champion award with everyone in the room, including teammates, knowing he is set to defect.

No, he's not certain to win the award, but if anyone else does, it will be a huge surprise.

Rischitelli played all 22 games and amassed 530 disposals, heading Luke Power (481) and Simon Black (460). He was top 10 in the competition for loose-ball gets.

At 24 and after 111 games in seven seasons, he should be at his peak.

While he's less than a damaging kick, he had an overall disposal efficiency of 73.6 per cent this year, superior to the Power and Black figures.

The Suns would have liked to have announced Rischitelli as early as today, but are going to have to content themselves for the moment with yesterday's announcements of Nathan Bock (Adelaide) and Nathan Krakouer (Port Adelaide) as mature recruits.

Rischitelli is one of at least six to come. They are expected to include Jarrod Harbrow (Western Bulldogs) and Campbell Brown (Hawthorn), both involved in finals, with an ever-growing suspicion the new club will land Gary Ablett. Ablett's future won't be known until Geelong completes its finals commitments.

Matthew Pavlich remains unsigned at Fremantle and his management has not been left in any doubt he could be comfortably accommodated on the Gold Coast if he wanted to leave Perth.

North Melbourne's David Hale also must be a strong possibility, given he is 26, a ruckman, comes from the Gold Coast and managed only 12 games this year.

Gold Coast officials remain suitably vague about their signings, yet there's an inescapable feeling they are extremely content with what might be to come.

It's going to be a tough off-season for the Lions, with a salary cap that is putting immense pressure on the football department.

There is conjecture surrounding the futures of Rischitelli, Black, Power, Jared Brennan, Josh Drummond and Ash McGrath, an unhealthy situation at a club that finished 13th with seven wins.