The Gold Coast SUNS are excited to announce the signing of Malcolm Rosas Jnr for at least the next two years.

Rosas spent the year playing for the Allies and Northern Territory Academy teams before finishing the year with five games for the NT Thunder in the NEAFL. 

Rosas, 18, said he was thrilled that the hard work he had put in over a number of years had paid off.

“I’ve worked hard, especially over the last couple of years, to improve my game and now I’m on an AFL list, it’s a dream come true," Rosas Jnr said.

“Many people in the Northern Territory have put a lot of time and effort into getting me to this position and I can’t thank them enough.

"It’s going to be a big step up to playing AFL football for the SUNS, but I'm looking forward to putting my head down and working hard to make the NT proud."

General Manager Football Operations Jon Haines, was looking forward to what Rosas Jnr could bring to the club.

“He’s an exciting young talent who has performed at a high level over the last couple of years, across a number of different football programs” Haines said.

“It’s a credit to Malcolm and his family what he has been able to achieve in the past couple of years and we look forward to welcoming them to the football club.”

AFLNT CEO Stuart Totham said it was a good day for Territory footy.

“Mally is a popular young man; he’s electric and talented on field but a gentleman off it; that combination will stand him in good stead and will do us all proud. There will be a lot of people who are ecstatic about today’s news and that’s warranted.

“We are pleased the Gold Coast SUNS partnership is already bearing fruit and we know there are more players in this year’s group and beyond who are worthy of the opportunity, so we look forward to working with them to uncover the next Mally,” he said.

The small forward impressed during recent NAB AFL Draft Combine when he finished third overall in the 20m sprint (running 2.92 seconds) and recorded a solid time of 6:33 minutes in the 2km time trial.

Rosas becomes the first player drafted to the club since the AFL recently announced that the Darwin region would form part of the club’s Academy program.

As part of the AFL’s assistance package the club was awarded the opportunity to pre-sign players from its academy region (including Darwin) before the draft without having to bid for them.