The Gold Coast SUNS have traded up the order to secure Sam Flanders with Pick 11 in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft.
With Flanders still on the board after the opening ten picks, the SUNS have packaged up picks 17 and 22 and received pick 11 and 62 in return in a trade with Carlton to secure the highly-talented forward.
The 18-year-old is a powerful medium forward/midfielder who has impacted matches all year with his contested ball-winning ability and strength in one-on-one contests real features of his play.
WATCH: Sam Flanders on his special moment
He can change a game in a burst, whether it be bolting out of a stoppage and shrugging off tacklers, or when he goes forward, either in the air as a strong overhead mark for his size or when he shows his power at ground level.
He rose to the occasion late in the NAB League season with some standout displays and he enjoys being in the action, getting in the face of opponents and the odd scuffle.
He won 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian honours after he averaged 22.5 disposals, 4.5 marks, 4.5 clearances and six tackles across the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Flanders joins Matt Rowell (pick one) and Noah Anderson (pick two) as 2019 SUNS draftees so far.
CLUB
Gippsland Power
JUNIOR CLUB
Fish Creek
SCHOOL
Lowanna College
DATE OF BIRTH
24th July 2001
HEIGHT
182cm
WEIGHT
81kg
POSITION
Forward
