Gold Coast Suns extend Jed Walter contract, Western Bulldogs suffer Bailey Dale injury blow

Shunning big-money offers from rival clubs, Jed Walter said the lure of achieving AFL glory with his childhood club made re-signing a "pretty easy decision".

The highly-rated forward has signed a three-year deal to remain at the Suns until the end of the 2029 season after attracting strong interest from interstate clubs.

Essendon had been leading the pursuit for the key forward, with Geelong, Collingwood and Hawthorn among other rivals interested.

Gold Coast had reportedly tabled a five-year, $5 million offer to counter massive interest.

Feeling he has finally found his feet in his third season at AFL level, the Suns academy product believed the potential to achieve greatness with his home club outweighed overtures from elsewhere.

He is one of 17 Suns academy graduates on their AFL list, joined by the likes of Bodhi and Zeke Uwland.

"I've always had discussions. I guess it's a business at the end of the day," Walter said.

"But I'm a Gold Coast boy. I've played my whole life here, and my friends and family are here as well. So it was pretty easy decision in the end.

"We're building something special up here. I just want to be a part of that.

"The club's backed me in so I want to be a key part of that team going forward for success."

In his third season since being drafted as pick three in 2023, Walter has kicked a career-best 23 goals across 12 games as Damien Hardwick's 14th-placed Suns (7-10) struggle to recapture last year's form.

"There's always going to be external noise," Walter said.

"As long as we're a strong, connected group inside the four walls we all know what we need to do.

"We know the answers and we're sure we can turn around pretty quickly.

"He's [Hardwick] obviously backed me in as a player, a lot of positive stuff, and then we have some good chats as well about what I need to improve on as well.

"Me and Dim have a really good relationship."

Key Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale sidelined with injury

The Western Bulldogs could be without star defender Bailey Dale for the rest of the AFL home-and-away season because of a fractured shoulder.

In a blow to their top-six hopes, and with just six rounds remaining before finals, the Bulldogs are bracing for Dale to be sidelined for at least the next five weeks.

The All-Australian half-back was hurt during the dying stages of the Dogs's hard-fought win over West Coast last Sunday.

"In the final three minutes of the match Bailey landed awkwardly in a marking contest, causing an acute injury to his shoulder," Bulldogs head of sports medicine Chris Bell said.

"Scans have confirmed that he has a minor fracture.

"Having consulted specialists, Bailey will not require surgical management for this injury, however, a conservative approach will be taken to allow the fracture to heal.

"Bailey will miss at least the next five weeks of football."

Creative and hard-running, Dale has twice won All-Australian blazers in 2021 and 2025.

The 29-year-old has played every game for the Bulldogs to this point of the season, averaging 26.9 disposals.

He is second only to Sydney's Nick Blakey for number of rebounds out of his team's defensive 50-metre zone, averaging 6.4 per game.

The Dogs (10-7) sit seventh ahead of a huge clash with Gold Coast (7-10) at Carrara Stadium on Sunday.

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