On his first day of pre-season training at Metricon Stadium, Will Brodie had to be told by SUNS Elite Performance Director Justin Cordy to slow down, such was his eagerness to impress his new teammates and coaches.

The supremely driven 18-year-old couldn’t understand why he couldn’t go full tilt or participate in every single drill, even after he fell victim to a blood nose courtesy of the searing Queensland heat.

A couple of weeks on the track has given Brodie the opportunity to soak up information and advice from his new teammates including childhood hero Michael Barlow and dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett.

“There’s been some amazing feedback I’ve been getting out on the track from players like ‘Hally’, Mick Barlow, obviously Gaz Ablett,” Brodie told SUNS TV.

“There’s so many elite players out there with some amazing experience, so just being able to learn off them and watch how they go about it and try and develop some skills with them as well, so it’s been a good learning experience and I’m loving it at the moment.”

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The big-bodied teenager wants to play senior footy as quickly as possible, with a focus on building his endurance base and strength heading into 2017.

“Going into the rest of the pre-season hopefully keep trying to improve my endurance base and just keep getting stronger and fitter and faster as much as I can and just try and get myself ready for AFL level as early as I can,” Brodie said.

Draftees Jack Bowes and Will Brodie with Justin Cordy on day one of pre-season training.