Before being selected by the SUNS at pick No. 53 in November’s rookie draft, West Australian Cam Loersch already had intentions to move to the Gold Coast.
 
After missing out on being picked up in the 2014 drafts, Loersch was set to play for the Southport Sharks in 2016 to prove himself ahead of next year’s draft. However the SUNS recruiting team, led by Scott Clayton and Dom Ambrogio, had different ideas for the 203-centimetre behemoth.
 
“Last year in 2014, I thought I was a good chance but I didn’t get picked up,” Loersch told SUNS TV.
 
“Then this year I had no idea but I was going to come play for Southport and then apparently they just said ‘nah I think we should get him in the system’.
 
“Because I didn’t play all last year obviously with glandular fever so I got a pretty good surprise when I was just laying on the floor watching the rookie draft in nothing but me Bonds.”
 
At just 20 years of age, Loersch is the epitome of a project player in the AFL system with tremendous upside to grow as a footballer.
 
The ruckman-cum-forward will be given plenty of time to develop in the NEAFL and could form a lethal forward/ruck partnership with 2014 No. 8 draft pick Peter Wright when the two play together at reserve level.
 
Both are proven goalkickers, with Wright kicking 36 goals in 15 NEAFL games in 2015, while Loersch booted 57 goals in 21 games in the WAFL colts in 2014.
 
Loersch is determined to get the most out of himself over the next twelve months and learn from quality key-position players like Tom Lynch and Steven May.
 
“Get everything out of pre-season, so every session they get me to do give it 100 per cent, give it everything and just really play some good NEAFL footy I think, just develop up,” he said.
 
“We’ve got some good key forwards to learn off with Lynchy (Tom Lynch) and some good key backs to learn the tricks of the trade off with Maysie (Steven May) and stuff like that as well.
 
“So just have a good 2016 NEAFL year, I think.”