As Jack Martin develops his already incredible skill set in the NEAFL under the guidance of Shaun Hart, Jaeger O’Meara is emerging as the hottest property in the AFL, despite having played just 12 games at Elite level.
While there are plenty of rival Club’s lining up to secure the signature of the extraordinary rookie, Gold Coast SUNS senior coach Guy McKenna has poured cold water on a potential move, saying the teenage superstar had revealed to club insiders that he wants to be a one-club player.
''He indicated to us he was pretty keen to be a one-club player and we would dearly like to honour that from our side of things,'' McKenna told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
''Those negotiations are almost, I wouldn't say daily, but they are certainly things we talk about.''
The interest comes only days after O’Meara became the youngest player in more than a decade to collect 30+ disposals in a match, surpassing Callan Ward’s previous record achieved against Port Adelaide in Round 12, 2009 after the former Bulldog finished with 33 disposals.
''To get 30 possessions in your first year of football is some feat and I think it took me five years and (three) games to knock up 30 possessions in a game,'' he said.
''You reap what you sow and he trains and looks after himself like a professional and plays like a professional.''’
''Those players are few and far between but you get out of life what you put into it and he will get a lot out of it.''
The heavily-backed favourite for this year’s AFL’s NAB Rising Star Award has shown enough in his impressive start to his AFL career to suggest he will reach the 200 game milestone.
It’s been a busy year for GC SUNS General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft and List Manager Scott Clayton, with the club having already announced eleven key re-signings at Metricon Stadium this season.
And McKenna believes it’s no surprise why the club has been on record pace this year with contract extensions, citing the words of midfielder Dion Prestia after the recently-committed pocket rocket said the club was building towards something special on the Gold Coast.
“To be part of a start-up club, you don’t realised the impact you have on the community,” McKenna said.
''People at Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond are playing for great traditional clubs but these boys don't understand you are actually starting a club.
''All that tradition and culture that all those clubs survive off now is what they are building and these boys are at the start of something special.''
