Kane Cornes says out of contract Gold Coast Suns spearhead Jed Walter is the AFL’s next $1m forward

Out-of-contract Gold Coast forward Jed Walter is the AFL’s next million dollar forward, according to expert Kane Cornes.

It comes after The West Australian revealed earlier in this week that West Coast were one of several clubs interested in Walter, who is yet to break into the Suns’ side in 2026.

Walter is yet to sign on beyond his initial draft contract after being taken with pick No.3 in the 2023 draft and has found himself out of favour with coach Damien Hardwick.

The 20-year-old has not played since round 19 last year, being overlooked for all of last year’s finals series while he was suspended for the season opener after an incident in the pre-season.

Walter — who has kicked 29 goals in 30 AFL games — isn’t the only Gold Coast forward out of contract, with spearhead Ben King yet to recommit to the club and is a free agent, while former Western Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan joined the club on a one-year deal.

Cornes said Walter reminded him of West Coast’s all-time leading spearhead Josh Kennedy and predicted he’d be on the end of monster offers from clubs.

“If you are looking at a key forward, go and give Jed Walter $1.2 million right now.” Cornes told SEN.

“Ben King is going to get the offers. I look at Port Adelaide, if (Zak) Butters goes, go and give Jed Walter an offer he cannot say no to.

“He is Josh Kennedy from West Coast all over again. That’s what he is going to be, and he can’t get a game.

“He’s out of contract, he’s going to look and there’s two in front of him already, Jamarra (Ugle-Hagan) is still there… I’d be offering ridiculous money to go and get him.”

Walter has a strong link to Western Australia, having grown up in South Perth before his family moved to Queensland when he was eight.

“I have always loved West Coast. I have been a hardcore West Coast fan growing up,” Walter told The West Australian before he was drafted.

“We’ve always been a huge AFL family, but we decided to make the move to the Gold Coast when I was eight. Mum loved it over there when we went for holidays, so she decided it was time for a change.

“But growing up in Perth it was either West Coast or Fremantle. My Mum, my Nan and my Pop have always supported West Coast, and I jumped on them because the family did.

“I model my game on (Carlton forward) Charlie Curnow, but back when I was younger, I loved Nic Naitanui and Josh Kennedy as well. They were the main two I loved growing up.”

Walter kicked one goal from 13 disposals in the Suns’ VFL season opening loss to Werribee.