Recently re-signed SUNS forward Sam Day has come a long way since his draft day in 2010, and now nine years later his cousin Will is about to go through the exact same process.
18-year-old Will Day has gone from AFL draft hopeful to likely draft bolter after some strong form this season in the SANFL and for South Australia at Under 18 level.
Sam has been impressed by his cousin’s skills and is hoping to see him join the ranks as another Day in the AFL later this year.
“At family gatherings whenever I go back and see the family we catch up,” Sam told SUNS Media.
“He’s great, he’s pretty quiet but similar to me in that respect when I was a lot younger.
“He sometimes asks me questions about what it’s like to play AFL and I’m happy to share my experiences and be a bit of a sounding board for him.
“When you get him in a one-on-one chat he’s very respectful and pretty good so yeah I just really love being around him.
“We don’t get to catch up very often but he’s a great kid.”
Sam is eight years Will’s senior and can remember when he was in the same position Will is currently in now.
“I’m sure it’s an exciting time for him at the moment,” Sam said.
“He probably wasn’t on the radar early days but he’s a pretty talented kid both sides of his body and I think he’ll do pretty well if he can get into the system which I think he will.
“Last time we would have seen each other was Christmas and we were just having a big, long chat out the back shooting the basketball.
“He was just picking my brain about footy as he has pretty much over the last six or seven years since I’ve been in the system.
“He listens but is very switched on so I’m sure he’ll be doing everything he can to give himself the best chance to play some sort of professional sport.
“He’ll be a great acquisition for anyone that picks him up.”
Will has shifted SANFL clubs from Glenelg to West Adelaide to join the club where his grandfather Robert Day is a club legend and hall of famer.
This year Will is starting to prove himself as a mobile half-back/winger and reminds Sam of fellow South-Australian teammate Jack Lukosius when he plays.
“He’s pretty lanky at the moment so he will have to fill out but he moves really well,” Sam said.
“He’s a big rangy guy, similar to Luko I reckon, he just moves well and has nice skills.
“I think as he matures he’ll grow into his body and he’ll be a super athlete as well.”
Sam says he’d love the prospect of one day lining up alongside Will in Gold Coast SUNS colours.
“You don’t get many times where the family play together so it would be pretty cool to say that I’ve got another relation in the league.
“To have him at the same club would be pretty special so I’d absolutely love to have him here.
“I think he’d like to be up here, he’d really enjoy it.”
