Almost 300 AFL Club officials and media personalities are expected to arrive on the glitter strip, with the event to be broadcast live nationally on FOX FOOTY, 3AW, 5AA, SEN, Gold FM and streamed on afl.com.au.
The national draft return’s to its traditional format for the first time in three years, marking the end of the draft concessions awarded to the Gold Coast SUNS and Greater Western Sydney.
Led by List Manager Scott Clayton, the GC SUNS will enter the national talent pool with a stock of quality picks including picks 5, 18 and 27 – meaning the Club will boast three selections inside the top 25.
With prized teenager Jack Martin also to be promoted onto the senior list, there will be no shortage of depth on the playing list.
With the Giants widely tipped to take key forward Tom Boyd and gun midfielder Josh Kelly with their first two picks in the draft, Victorian half-forward Jack Billings and South Australian duo James Aish and Matt Scharenberg are firmly on the SUNS’ radar.
Aish, who is regarded as one of the best users of the Sherrin in this year’s draft pool after playing a pivotal role in successive SANFL premierships for Norwood, spent a week with the GC SUNS mid-season as part of his AIS-AFL Academy scholarship and housed with captain Gary Ablett during his stay.
Regardless, the GC SUNS’ list management team will be doing a ground of research before entering the Convention Centre.
2014 Gold Coast SUNS members are invited to attend the draft.
The event will be held from 5:30-7:30pm (QLD Time) and the AFL Playground will be open to families from 3pm on the front terrace.
In a further bid to promote the event, AFL Queensland will be staging a number of activities in the week surrounding the draft including a skills combine for over 200 young male and female athletes, as well as a Level 2 Coaching and Talent ID course.
The event is proudly supported by NAB and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
For great holiday information when planning your trip to the Gold Coast, visit queenslandholidays.com.au
