Gold Coast defender Rory Thompson has signed a contract extension that ties him to the club until the end of 2019 at least.

Discarded Docker Michael Barlow has confirmed he'll continue his AFL career on the Gold Coast, officially joining the Suns as a delisted free agent on Tuesday.

Former Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow will continue his AFL career at Gold Coast after joining the expansion club as a delisted free agent on Tuesday.

Gold Coast youngster Jarrod Garlett has been released from his new two-year contract, despite agreeing to it in August, to return to his home state Western Australia to deal with a private family matter.

Despite being delisted by the Dockers, Michael Barlow looks to have no shortage of AFL suitors.

If Gary Ablett was granted his wish of returning to Geelong, he wouldn't have been the first big name in the history of the game to go back to his original club.

Gold Coast say they are well advanced in finding a new major sponsor after Fiat decided not to renew their expiring contract with the club.

• COMMENT

Even allowing for his reported renewed fidelity to the Gold Coast cause and the family pressures that drove him to try to leave, the Gary Ablett story leaves a lingering bad taste.

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett's stunning offer to be traded back to Geelong was a "good Samaritan" act, according to Suns chairman Tony Cochrane.

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Join us for rolling coverage as the AFL announces the fixture for 2017.

It was tough to keep up with which picks ended up where, let alone what was in it for the clubs.

• EXCLUSIVE

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett tried to leave the club at the end of the 2016 season, asking the Suns to trade him back to Geelong.

Gold Coast and Port Adelaide will square off in Shanghai on May 14 next year in the first AFL match for premiership points to take place in China.

The AFL has firmly denied that there were any illegallities involved in the trade that sent Jaeger O'Meara from the Gold Coast to Hawthorn.

Geelong are pushing for eight games at Simonds Stadium in a 13-week period, with the 2017 AFL fixture due to be released on Thursday.

The first round fixture of the 2017 AFL season has been released, with Essendon's banned players to return on Saturday night against Hawthorn at the MCG.

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade has a simple message for Geelong if they hope to lure favourite son Gary Ablett back to Simonds Stadium: "good luck".

Jaeger O'Meara took the long way round to Waverley in a deal made with minutes to spare.

Gold Coast believe they "extracted their pound of flesh" from Hawthorn in the Jaeger O'Meara deal which was finally sealed at he eleventh hour.