Jesse Joyce was always happy to re-commit to the Gold Coast SUNS.

The 19-year-old has called the Gold Coast home since a young age and has been stunned by the support he’s received from the local community since making his AFL debut in round 11 against Sydney.

Representing them each week by pulling on the red and gold guernsey is something that really drives the young defender as he exceeded all expectations to play 11 senior games in his maiden campaign at the top level.

“It’s awesome. It’s been overwhelming the support I’ve gotten from everyone around me,” Joyce told SUNS TV.

“I went down and watched ‘Palmy’ [Palm Beach] play in their final on the weekend and everyone was coming over and seeing how I’m going. I always love getting down to ‘Cooly’ [Coolangatta] as well because my brother’s still there.

“The Academy system has been great for me and I’m very grateful of what they’ve been able to do to get me to this point.”

Joyce emerged as a late selection in last year’s rookie draft after impressing for the club’s NEAFL side in the latter half of 2015.

Over recent weeks, many of the club’s Academy prospects have emulated that same pathway, pushing their own draft cases in the SUNS reserves team.

A competition-record 16 Academy players represented the club in last week’s Elimination Final loss with their contribution a major factor behind the team’s late push into the NEAFL top six.

Joyce is hoping to play with some of those young guns in 2017.

“Their form’s been great in the NEAFL,” Joyce said.

“I’m happy to say that they were a big part of us making the finals so it’s been great from that side.

“I think you’ll see plenty of Academy prospects hopefully coming through our club because it’d be awesome to play with them boys I’ve grown up playing with.”