Jarrad Grant played for a team this year that bolted from nowhere to make the finals.

After finishing 14th in 2014, the Western Bulldogs were the surprise packets of 2015, vaulting all the way into the top-eight and a week one finals elimination.

But despite playing 19 games, Grant was delisted after eight years at the club.

His former mentor, Rodney Eade, quickly got on the phone to lure the 26-year-old to Gold Coast where he now has one month of training under his belt.

Speaking for the first time since becoming a SUN, Grant told AFL.com.au he saw similarities between his new club and his old one.

While not brave enough to predict a Gold Coast finals berth in 2016 – we all heard that prior to last season before the SUNS spectacularly crashed to 16th – Grant was more than optimistic.

"It's a young list, and there's a lot of exciting players and high draft picks," he said on his initial impressions.

"Last year was a hard one to get your head around. There were a lot of players off the park injured that have a big influence on the way these guys play.

"I do see this club (achieving something) similar in 2016 to what the Bulldogs did this year. I think they can make a rise quickly up the ladder with everyone on the park."

Grant said despite being disappointed at his delisting, he had no hard feelings towards the Bulldogs and was just excited to get another chance.

That chance comes via Eade, a man who coached Grant during his first three years. The running forward remembers the time well.

"I was a young guy coming in," he recalled.

"I played in our last prelim (final in 2010) at the Bulldogs. He (Eade) showed a lot of faith in me as a young guy and gave me a lot of confidence to play the game, so I'm looking forward to playing under him again.

"I'm a bit older and wiser and hoping to pass on some of my wisdom to the younger group."

Grant was drafted as a tall forward, moved to the wing last year, and will return to the forward line in 2016 with 81 games and 83 goals to his name.

Eade plans on using him as a third tall forward that can link the midfield with the forward line.

"It's been a good transition," Grant said.

"I was nervous as a new guy coming in, but it's a very young group and all the young guys are very excited to have a new guy around, they've been very welcoming so far and I'm enjoying my time here."